Latest news with #DigitalPersonalDataProtectionActof2023
Mint
11-06-2025
- Mint
Data protection: A privacy shield shouldn't end up as a barrier
The internet's interface with users has been jostled over all the way from its early days of web browsers to today's handy mobile apps. Now tools of artificial intelligence (AI) have entered the fray, just as India's online privacy law is about to kick in. Together, they could alter the dynamics of internet usage. First, consider the rise of AI chatbots since the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT in late 2022. According to Mary Seeker's report on AI trends cited by Plain Facts in Mint, India has more users of ChatGPT's mobile app than any other country; April data shows that we account for 13.5% of this chatbot's global user base, with the US share of 8.9% placing its home market second. The concept has clearly caught on, which explains why search engines like Google and Bing now offer similar AI features. Some seekers of information have begun to see AI generated snapshots as sufficient, which means they often do not visit source websites even when chatbots present them a set of links. This suggests significant tolerance of AI's hallucinatory risks. Also Read: Rahul Matthan: Don't let data privacy safeguards work against us Meanwhile, all 'data fiduciaries' that operate in India, such as sites that ask for our identity and other details, may soon have to meet new user-consent norms under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act of 2023 (once final rules are notified). Not only must they obtain our explicit opt-in consent for each purpose they plan to use our data for—be it to set the site right for us, pool our files in for a meta-data analysis, aim personalized ads at us, or whatever—they must also let us flip past choices and delete data accordingly. If the mandatory protocols for all this prove too clunky, they could get in the way of website access just as AI begins to impact web traffic. To be sure, India's privacy law offers a valuable shield against the misuse of our personal data. The battle for this law was hard-fought, and while it's imperfect, it serves as a vital piece of armoury. Its rules need to be implemented without ado. Also Read: The agentic AI revolution isn't the future, it's already here The worry lies elsewhere—in user behaviour. Although online privacy has been a rallying cry, users of apps and sites are reluctant to scroll through 'terms and conditions' when it's so much easier to click blindly on an 'I agree' box and proceed. In part, the privacy law is designed to solve this problem of signing away rights without realizing what it might imply. Yet, while the law clearly aims to ensure that users know exactly what they are getting into, whether they'll view point-by-point consent tick-boxes as a hurdle is yet to be tested. Also Read: Mint Quick Edit | India's new privacy rules: A mixed bag This assumes salience in the context of behavioural patterns that place a premium on speed. Web users who want to find out something fast, for example, are often content to consult a chatbot and save time on a deeper delve. If visiting a new site involves a consent rigmarole, even more web traffic may flock towards chatbots and stay there. Conceivably, this trend may concentrate power in a handful of AI market leaders that own a popular interface. It's not just about information. Versatile tools of Agentic AI offering to execute odd tasks for us could come next to impact websites driven by interactivity. While it is unclear if AI bots could fill up online consent forms on our behalf (via, say, a digital power-of-attorney device), it's clear that any such concentration of power would pose antitrust risks. To resist AI dominance, sundry websites must keep users engaged directly. And to that end, they will need to keep their privacy protocols as user-friendly as possible. A shield should not end up as a barrier.
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Business Standard
24-04-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Software services giant TCS launches three India-focused offerings
Software services giant TCS on Thursday launched three India-focused offerings, which include an indigenous and secure cloud for government and public sector enterprises. The TCS SovereignSecure Cloud, which aims to strengthen India's data sovereignty and accelerate the country's artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, will leverage Tata Communications Limited's data centres in the availability zones of Mumbai and Hyderabad. The company also introduced two other India-focused offerings: the TCS DigiBOLT, an AI-enabled low-code platform, and its globally recognised Cyber Defense Suite. 'This is going to help us build scale, trust, and understanding. TCS is committed to building these solutions for India, in India, and for the world from India. We will do so with sovereignty and sustainability in mind, while leveraging our contextual knowledge of the customers we work with,' the company's chief executive officer K Krithivasan said. The TCS SovereignSecure Cloud offers dedicated infrastructure that is designed to enable compliance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act of 2023 and has AI integrated into its foundation, TCS said. "This launch marks the beginning of many such offerings tailored for India's unique needs, as TCS dedicates itself to supporting the country's mission of building robust digital solutions that are made in India, for India, and are ready for the world," the release said. The launch took place in New Delhi at TCS' 'Accelerating India' event. Apart from Krithivasan, senior company executives such as Girish Ramachandra, president of growth markets; Tej Bhatla, head of India public services at TCS; and Ashok Krish, global head of AI at the company, were also present at the event.
