In recent years, India has made great strides in its digital strategies and data governance. India has embraced technology and digitization to drive economic growth and improve the lives of its citizens. However, as the country continues to grow, it must also ensure that its digital strategies and data governance are inclusive, transparent, secure and conducive to sustainable development.
India’s G-20 chairmanship has provided the country with an opportunity to showcase its progress in the digital sector, especially with respect to data infrastructure and data governance. As the world becomes increasingly digital, the G20 recognized the need for international collaboration and cooperation in addressing the challenges, opportunities and risks posed by the rapid development of data and digital technologies.
Significant progress has been made in the use of digital technologies to provide access to bank accounts and promote digital transactions through Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and other options.
DEPA and related concerns
The launch of India’s Data Empowerment and Protection Framework (DEPA), a consent management tool, has generated both enthusiasm and concern among stakeholders. On the one hand, DEPA has the potential to improve data security and privacy by giving citizens greater control over the use and sharing of their personal information. By allowing people to easily manage and control their data consent, DEPA can help build trust in digital technologies and data governance. However, there are also risks associated with DEPA, particularly in terms of security and privacy. If consent management tools are not properly implemented or managed, there is a risk that personal information may be misused or abused.
Additionally, there are concerns that the implementation of DEPA may be inconsistent across different regions and jurisdictions, which may reduce its effectiveness and create confusion among citizens. To realize the potential benefits of DEPA and minimize the risks, it is critical that the instrument is implemented in a transparent, consistent, and secure manner. This will require close cooperation between government, the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders, and the development of clear and effective rules and standards.
While progress in financial inclusion and successful implementation of UPI in India is commendable, it remains to be seen whether these advances can be successfully replicated in other sectors such as health and agriculture. The use of digital technologies can increase access to health care services, especially in rural and remote areas, while in agriculture they can empower farmers and increase their income.
However, there are concerns that pertain to security and privacy on the one hand and infrastructure, connectivity and availability of a skilled human workforce on the other. In addition, there are concerns about the potential misuse of data and information in these areas. For example, in the health sector, there is a risk that sensitive medical information may be misused or exploited for commercial purposes, while in agriculture, there is a risk that market information may be manipulated for the benefit of certain actors. Is.
Another issue is the ownership and governance of data generated and collected in health and agriculture. What are the rights of data providers? And what are the responsibilities towards them? The state has a vital role to play in addressing and resolving such issues. Obviously data governance has to make development a process that is agile and accountable. But it should be built on fundamental rights, values and norms and rules balancing the interests of all stakeholders. These concerns must be addressed through strong and robust data protection regulations, the development of ethical and responsible data governance practices, as well as through effective and accountable oversight mechanisms.
data sovereignty issue
Data sovereignty has become an increasingly important issue. The term “data sovereignty” refers to the principle that a country has the right to control the collection, storage and use of data within its borders as well as the informational self-determination of citizens over their data.
The establishment of the India Data Management Office (IDMO) by India is a step forward in the country’s journey towards data sharing and data governance. IDMO is expected to oversee and coordinate the implementation of India’s digital strategies and data governance framework, and ensure that these efforts are in line with the country’s values and priorities. It will also work to promote the development and implementation of open-source solutions, which will help ensure that the underlying data architecture is a social public good, and promote digital technologies to make them accessible and affordable to all . Again, this is a huge opportunity for India to develop solutions that can be adapted and adopted in other countries. Open source and open innovation models can be important alternatives to proprietary solutions that are governed by large tech companies.
In this context, many commentators have called for the opening of data “silos” to capture the potential wealth of data sharing between government offices, corporations and citizens. While opening up some data silos can be useful in fostering citizen participation and increasing access to information, others can jeopardize trust and security.
find a middle ground
For example, sharing sensitive personal or financial information can be harmful to individuals and societies as a whole, as it can lead to discrimination, exclusion, and unintended negative consequences. Therefore, it is important for India to navigate a middle way between restrictive data sovereignty and unlimited data flow, and define what data can be shared, for what purposes and by whom. Could
In doing so, India must respect and protect the fundamental right to privacy with a strong data protection law, and balance the interests of all stakeholders, including governments, businesses and citizens, with the goal of sustainable development.
This requires the development of clear, transparent and accountable data governance policies and regulations, as well as investment in the necessary digital infrastructure and skills to ensure that data is collected, stored and used in a responsible, secure and accountable manner. is done – so that a flexible data governance regime can be met.
Finally, while progress in financial inclusion and UPI inter alia holds promise for the transfer of data to other parts of the India stack (eg in health and agriculture), there are legitimately skeptical notes that must be taken into account. Needed (India Stack is an integrated software platform that provides digital public goods, application interfaces and facilitates digital inclusion.) The challenges of digital infrastructure, privacy protection, data security and responsible data governance must be addressed, before that these advances can be fully realized in other countries. regions.
Furthermore, it is essential that the India Stack is designed and implemented in a manner that is consistent with India’s broader development strategies. This will help ensure that data governance is in line with the country’s values and priorities, and that it supports, rather than undermines, the development of a safer, more equitable and trustworthy digital future for all. In this, India has a unique opportunity to develop and implement a data governance regime that can become a model for other countries.
Ingrid Schneider is Professor of Political Science at the University of Hamburg, Germany. Krishna Ravi Srinivas is with Research and Information Systems for Developing Countries, New Delhi. Views expressed are personal