Sydney Dialogue: PM Modi calls for setting up of global technical and governance standards for data protection

Delivering the keynote address at the inaugural Sydney Dialogue, Modi also enumerated five important digital transitions taking place in India, including connecting villages with broadband, the National Health Mission and also invited countries to join the CoWin platform.

Modi said while the advantages of future tech are many, nations must also work together to protect themselves from the dangers that future tech brings with itself, including the manipulation of public opinion – in a pointed reference to social media and how it is used to whip up public sentiment.

He said the invitation by Australia PM Scott Morrison to address the inaugural Sydney Dialogue, is a “recognition of India's central role in the Indo Pacific region and in the emerging digital world”.

“It is also a tribute to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between our two countries, a force of good for the region and the world."

Modi, who has been pushing the country to go digital including through the Digital India platform and digital payments, said the digital age has redefined politics, economy and society.

“It is raising new questions on sovereignty, governance, ethics, law, rights and security. It is reshaping international competition, power and leadership.”

While it has ushered in a new era of opportunities for progress and prosperity, the world also faces new risks and new forms of conflicts across diverse threats – “from the sea bed to cyber to space”.

He pointed out that while technology has already become a major instrument of global competition and the key to shaping the future international order, technology and data are also becoming new weapons.

“The biggest strength of democracy is openness. At the same time, we should not allow a few vested interests to misuse this openness,” he warned, in a reference again to the manipulation of social media.

He said “India as a democracy and a digital leader is ready to work with partners for our shared prosperity and security”.

“India's digital revolution is rooted in our democracy, our demography, and the scale of our economy. It is powered by the enterprise and innovation of our youth. We are turning the challenges of the past into an opportunity to take a leap into the future,” the PM emphasised.

He said India has created a “robust framework of data protection, privacy and security”, and is also using data as a source of empowerment of people. “India has unmatched experience in doing this in a democratic framework with strong guarantees of individual rights.”

PM Modi said “how a nation uses technology is linked to its values and vision. India's democratic traditions are old; its modern institutions are strong”, in an oblique reference to China where social media is tightly governed by the state.

Referring to the CoWin platform, he said India has offered it to the world and made it an open source software.

“India's extensive experience with use of technology and policy for public good, inclusive development and social empowerment can be of great help to the developing world,” he said.

“We can work together to empower nations and their people, and prepare them for the opportunities of this century. That is also important for building a future of this world that reflects our democratic ideals and values. That is as important as our own national security and prosperity.”

He stressed that it is essential for democracies to work together, “to invest together in research and development in future tech; to develop trusted manufacturing base and trusted supply chains, to deepen intelligence and operational cooperation on cyber security, protect critical information infrastructure; To prevent manipulation of public opinions, to develop technical and governance standards and norms consistent with our democratic values, and to create standards and norms for data governance and for cross border flow that protect and secure data."

“It should also recognize national rights and at the same time promote trade, investment and larger public good,” the Prime Minister said.

Citing the example of crypto currency, he said: “Take crypto currency or bitcoin for example – it is important that all democratic nations work together on this and ensure it does not end up in wrong hands that can spoil our youth.”

Modi said that the world must make its choices with regard to future tech: “We are at a historic moment of choice –whether all the wonderful powers of technology of our age will be instruments of cooperation or conflict, coercion or choice, domination or development, oppression or opportunity.”

He said that India, Australia and the partners in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond “hear the call of our time” and are “prepared to rise to fulfill our responsibilities”.

Outlining the five digital transitions taking place in the country, he said India is building the world's most extensive public information infrastructure, with 600,000 villages set to be connected with broadband. He referred to the UPI payment infrastructure, and said over 800 million Indians use the internet and 750 million are on smart-phones.

He referred to the vaccination of over 1 billion people in India, and said it was done using the Arogya Setu and Cowin platforms.

Modi said India is investing in developing indigenous capabilities in telecom technology such as 5G and 6G. “We have set up a Task Force with our industry to make India a global hub for cyber security,” he said, and added that India is focusing on hardware. “We are preparing a package of incentives to become a key manufacturer of semiconductors."

The Sydney Dialogue is an initiative of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison gave the introductory remarks.