India is stepping up its game in technology regulation with its forthcoming ‘Digital India Bill.’ The Minister for Entrepreneurship, Skill Development, Electronics, and Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, recently shared a sneak peek into the expected content of this much-anticipated digital law.
Since the initiation of the consultations in March 2023, the minister has been focusing on the limitations of the current IT Act, which, surprisingly, doesn’t mention the internet. A draft of the new bill, aimed to bring a significant overhaul to the outdated IT Act, is set to be released in June.
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A crucial part of this proposed law will be the regulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI). According to Chandrasekhar, the focus will be on minimizing user harm. While acknowledging global interest in AI regulation, he stated that India would implement its unique “guardrails” even if they differ from global norms. The draft law is expected to outline regulations for high-risk AI systems.
Content regulation on the internet is also a key topic of discussion. The proposed law is likely to feature regulations regarding ‘fake news’ on social media, as well as impose age restrictions on addictive services. The law will also provide risk assessments of algorithms and rules around content monetization. Lastly, the bill is likely to bring changes to India’s ‘safe harbor’ provisions, thereby modifying the liability of online services for user posts.
Based on the details shared by the IT minister, it is evident that the Digital India Bill aims to usher in a new era of tech regulation in India. This article is based on a report by CIOtechoutlook.
