UberFilesLeaks have ignited the debate about a country’s capacity to control and regulate tech giants in accordance with domestic laws and policies. With the technological advancements, these multinational giants have started to threaten the sovereignty of a country and are in line to become a modern world government. Control over people’s data and borderless presence has equipped them with enormous powers that not only influence the authorities to evade laws, but they are also in the position to change the government of a country.
India is closely monitoring the Uber development
While commenting on the UberFilesLeaks, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Union Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, Skill Development, Electronics, and Technology, said, “I have said many times BigTech use gaps in-laws and rules to the game system and consumers – always using the cover of “innovation” to fend off scrutiny”.
Under PM Narendra Modi – innovation will grow and also citizens’ right to Open, Safe & Trusted, and Accountable Internet, he added.
I hv said many times BigTech use gaps in laws n rules to game system & consumers – always using cover of "innovation" to fend off scrutiny
Under PM @narendramodi ji – innovation will grow n also ctzns right to Open,Safe&Trusted n Accountable Internet https://t.co/Za1b0HbiS8
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳(Modiyude Kutumbam) (@Rajeev_GoI) July 11, 2022
Further, talking to The Indian Express, he highlighted India’s work in the direction to strengthen laws regulating BigTech. Commenting on the Uber files and India’s upcoming laws, he said, “new rules and laws that will reduce the opportunities for them to violate Indian laws or do something illegal”.
“This is even more important in India because we have 80 crore Indians using the internet and in another two-and-a-half years, 120 crore Indians will be using the internet and technology platforms. Therefore, it is important that we ensure that the internet is safe and trusted and accountable for all these consumers”, he added.
Also Read: Global Big Tech wants to take over India’s FinTech but RBI has a plan
UberFilesLeaks: Faceoff between India and BigTech
As the government is aspiring to achieve a $5 trillion GDP target with the $1 trillion contributions from the Digital Economy, it is expected that BigTech companies would be playing an instrumental role in this journey. Also, with 55 per cent of the $200-250 billion market share, India is the global leader in the Information Technology industry. With the democratization of technology, the country is also vulnerable to cyber theft and other misdeeds by BigTech companies.
UberFilesLeaks suggests that the company used to evade tax authorities and other compliances by remotely controlling the data. They had installed software called “kill switch” to distantly darken the secret data, ultimately escaping from the regulating authorities. Further, Uber had also made alliances with different “stakeholders” to manipulate labour laws.
Further, the constant struggle of BigTech companies like Twitter, Google, Facebook, Amazon, and other data mining companies with the Indian government, for data localization, has further ignited the debate on data sovereignty.
Also Read: Google Play Store a lawless jungle where anyone can publish apps. Latest are Pro-Terror apps!
India’s proposed Information Technology Rules 2022 also prioritized the sovereignty of India over its data and put the interest of Digital Indians First. Recognizing the constitutional rights of Indian citizens, the new IT rules will try to conform BigTech under the ambit of Indian laws. It provides for strict compliance of the domestic laws by technology companies, and obligates these companies with strong regulations. Further, for dispute resolution and grievance redressal, BigTech companies are supposed to appoint a “Resident Grievance Officer” here in India.
With the goals of an Open, Safe & Trusted, and Accountable Internet for all Indian Internet Users, and recognizing online Indian users as Digital Nagriks, the new IT Rule seems to be ready to end the Big Tech’s dirty trade. In the borderless digital world, it is very important to contain these tech-enabled powerful companies with strong laws and maintain the sovereignty of the democratic republic.
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