Evolution of efforts to build a safe and inclusive digital society in India

India’s strong digital presence is supported by a complex system consisting of stakeholders across the Samaaj, Sarkaar, and Bazaar continuum.

In the past six years, India’s digital society landscape has evolved into a vibrant ecosystem of actors working towards creating a safer and inclusive world for Indians. These diverse set of stakeholders have played key roles in advancing the responsible technology discourse and relevant solutions. Apart from specific interventions, the capacity of the ecosystem to empower itself, align stakeholders’ perspectives and prepare for mitigating the risks have been key determinants for its evolution journey.

The stakeholders involved in the creation of a digital society include regulators, policymakers, civil society organisations, philanthropic funders, investors, the legal ecosystem, and the technology industry. Multiple interventions, interactions, and external triggers come together to create a systems change over a period of time.

The response to emerging risks arising from new technologies goes through has five-stage evolution. This evolution of a system’s response to new risks requires recognising and forging a common understanding of the risk, building consensus on the resolution of risk, and scaling up of solutions that eventually lead to the obviation of the risk. For instance, growing civil society and consumer awareness, policy discussions on a data protection legislation and changes in business policies to use privacy as a competitive advantage have led to the evolution of the system’s response to “non-consensual data sharing” from a nascent stage in 2016 to mainstream stage in 2022.

A well-funded and governed ecosystem that has the required awareness of risks among stakeholders, is empowered, and has the potential to react to critical events. It also enables efficient interaction and collaboration among all stakeholders which is required to evolve the system’s response to mitigate the impact of risks.

A system with solutions that have eliminated the risk

Legal consensus on the risk among stakeholders. The awareness and consensus often leads to targeted and effective solutions

Recognition of risk by key decision makers and mainstream media. Some early solutions can emerge

Early discussions among experts to highlight the risk

Ecosystem is unaware of the existence and extent of the risk

Domestic growth in usage of digital products and services through Aadhaar, UPI, and other platforms alongside the increasing number of data breaches and global policy developments like the GDPR have triggered action by regulators and the technology industry. Mainstream businesses are now building privacy-focused products.

User awareness has increased and regulators have also begun strengthening policies (DPDP Bill, IT Act, etc) around digital safety. These strong tailwinds and collective efforts by the regulators, civil society organisations, and the industry have led to a significant evolution of the ecosystem’s response to risks arising from technology.

Misinformation and fake news

Online harassment

Negative impact on mental wellbeing

Exclusion from digitally delivered services

Risk of surveillance due to emerging technologies

Data security breaches and online frauds

Non-consensual or unauthorised data collection, sharing and usage

Poor social security benefits for gig workers

Monopolisation and market concentration

Limited awareness and no solutions

Covered under IT Act 2008 and 2011

Limited conversations

Widespread awareness; emerging public & private solutions

Emerging private sector solutions

Widespread awareness but limited solutions

Lack of consensus on Aadhaar linkage Constitutional validity of Aadhaar established

Limited usage of newer technologies

Early discussions but limited solutions

Risk recognition limited to experts

Limited risk recognition

Limited risk recognition

Conversations among experts but no solutions

Mainstream media coverage; regulatory & private solutions exist

Increased policy & business solutions (DPDP Bill); rise in consumer awareness

Mainstream media coverage; policy discussions

CCI investigations and policy discussions (ONDC)