Nothing is impossible in technology : Ravi Shankar Prasad
Ravi Shankar Prasad said that it was possible to develop technological solutions to overcome the problem of encryption on social media platforms such as WhatsApp, that will help tackle the spread of rumours which resulted in lynching and clamp down on dissemination of messages related to terrorism or radicalisation.
He further said, Nothing is impossible in technology, the minister said in a special address at the ET Global Business Summit , while appreciating some of the steps taken by WhatsApp, which has been under fire on the issue. The social media giant has maintained that it was not possible for it to read messages due to the encryption technology.
Internet should not remain the monopoly of a few. It must reflect local ideas and culture. Internet must be safe and secure and government has a role as one of the stakeholders. Internet should not become a means to promote terror, radical thought and create disorder in the society. You have got the right to appreciate, the right to criticise. But if internet is abused to foment terror, radicalise and destroy India, surely a call has to be taken.
Ahead of general elections, a word of caution to the all social giants. Indian democracy is very important. Facebook, Twitter, WhatApp have powerful presence in India, but don’t abuse data to derail Indian democracy because Indian democratic process has to be free and fair.
IT Minister further said, the data protection law, which is in the works, will seek to maintain data sovereignty. while recognising the need for its use by business.” Privacy has come as a fundamental right by the Supreme court. Some degree of data movement is required but sensitive data, deeply personal data need to be located in India. We have come with the idea of fiduciary of data. But we are also pragmatic. We need a balance between data availability, data utility, data anonymity and data innovation. Lastly, he said, I am very keen that India becomes a centre of data analytics, he said.
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