Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar clarified the Indian government’s stance on social media platforms, emphasizing that their relationship is governed strictly by legal compliance rather than personal bias or conflict. He stressed the expectation for these platforms to adhere to Indian laws.
Speaking at the inaugural FinancialExpress.com Digital Bharat Economy Conclave 2023, Chandrasekhar reiterated the government’s non-adversarial approach toward any specific social media platform, highlighting the need for lawful operations.
“We consistently require these platforms to respect Indian laws,” he stated during his address.
The minister also addressed concerns regarding an alleged data breach of the CoWin platform, which serves as the COVID vaccination portal. Chandrasekhar asserted, “I want to emphasize that there was no breach of the CoWin database. The personal information associated with the Telegram bot was not sourced from the CoWin database.”
According to the initial findings, the “leaked” data likely came from the individual who operated the Telegram bot. “The data that was accessible via this bot, which has now disappeared, is largely fake,” he elaborated.
The Centre is continuing its investigation into this matter, seeking to determine the age of the data, its origin, and whether this incident was a deliberate attempt to simulate a data breach.
Chandrasekhar also responded to former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey’s recent comments alleging governmental pressure on Twitter during the farmers’ protests. He described Dorsey’s claims as an “outright lie.” “At no point between 2020 and 2022 did the Government of India take action against Twitter despite its violations of Indian laws. The government did not shut down Twitter or arrest anyone,” he stated.
The minister highlighted two significant issues regarding Twitter. First, he pointed out the platform’s belief that it operates independently of national laws. He reaffirmed that regulations apply universally. Secondly, he noted the necessity for increased oversight of such platforms to prevent arbitrary abuses of power stemming from political biases.
He added, “These revelations about Twitter strengthen the argument for governments, including India, to establish clear regulatory frameworks for these platforms.”
On the topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Chandrasekhar conveyed confidence in India’s readiness to adapt to this emerging technology. He stated, “AI is still in its early stages and is designed to enhance functionality, increasing efficiency without necessarily replacing human roles. Those who understand AI realize it won’t fully displace jobs. Currently, AI is far from replicating human reasoning.”
The minister also discussed India’s digital economy, indicating its remarkable growth. “In 2014, the digital economy accounted for roughly 4% of GDP. Today, that figure is nearing 10%. By 2026, we anticipate it will make up 20% of the GDP. Clearly, Digital India will drive India’s progress, positioning the nation among the forefront of technological advancement,” he concluded.
