What are you waiting for ?

Dear Anurag Thakur,

[  Chairman , Parliamentary Committee on IT  ]

A few days back, our Prime Minister, Shri Modiji had said :

“ We have left it to our Military commanders to decide what action to take , when to take it and in which manner to take it, against Pakistan, for all the terrorist acts it is committing against India – including killing of innocent civilians “

And around 3:48 hour this morning , the commanders carried out air-strikes in, not only PoK but even inside Pakistan

With laser guided 1,000 kg bombs  !

I hope you are not waiting for PM to tell you :

Anurag ,

I leave it to you to decide “ WHAT “ action you should take against the Social Media web sites which are,

·         spreading fake news / misinformation / biased political propaganda 

·         conniving with mischievous tweets to influence election outcomes 

·         without permission or even their knowledge, selling private-personal data of our citizens to earn $ 100 billion every year (  colonial exploitation of our data, - worse than during British rule of India )

I leave it to you to decide “ HOW “ you plan to get those websites to pay their Indian users, $ 10 Billion each year , to enable them to,

·         save their 16 lakh children who die in India every single year due to mal-nutrition

·         save 12 lakh citizens who die each year due to air pollution

·         save 17,000 farmers who are forced to commit suicide each year

=====================================================================================

Dear Anurag,

I am sure , Shri Modiji did not expect you to tell the Social Media , the following :

“ Twitter failed to give clear answers to some questions raised by the panel, as per available information.

It has been given 10 days to respond to those questions in writing.

These include “whether Twitter is registered in India and whether it stands registered as a technology or media company; number of employees working for Twitter India”.

The panel has also asked Twitter to “improve its grievance redressing mechanism” which a few panel members described as “slow and non- transparent”. 

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/twitter-to-appoint-nodal-officer-to-work-with-ec-to-address-issues-on-real-time-basis/articleshow/68157917.cms  

…. Social media giant Facebook, said it welcomes the opportunity to answer questions from the parliamentary committee to outline the specific steps the company has undertaken to help ensure the safety of its users. 

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/ready-when-you-are-facebook-tells-house-committee/articleshow/68161871.cms  

Dear Anurag,

Pak PM , Imran had the temerity to tell Shri Modiji  :

 “ Give us the proof of our involvement and we will act  “

Are you waiting for the Social Media to tell you :

“ Where is the proof that we made $ 100 billion, using private data of the Indians  ?  “

Dear Anurag,

It is time you drop on those Social Media sites , a $ 10 BILLION  BOMB , in the shape of :

Digital Dividend from Demographic Data [ 4 D ] 

Time for meetings / dialogue is over !

===========================================

26   Feb    2019

Rsvp :  hcp@Recruitguru.com

In China : It is “ Comply or Quit “

That is what the Chinese Government is telling the Foreign Companies setting up shop in China

How  ?

China has a law which says :

Based upon the Company Law, party organizations should be permitted to be established in a foreign-invested enterprise – JV or 100% foreign-owned – if it employs three or more party members.

Article 19 requires companies to provide the “necessary conditions” for the activities of party organizations, which shall be established within the company according to the CCP Constitution.

[  https://www.chinabusinessreview.com/fact-sheet-communist-party-groups-in-foreign-companies-in-china/  ]

Does this apply even to American Companies ?

You bet !

In a TV interview on BBC , last evening, Chairman of Huawei Group , Guo Ping said , even IBM, Microsoft and Motorola ( owned by Google ) , had to permit the setting up of Communist Party organizations within their Chinese establishments

How many American companies are obliged to do so ?

Approx.  900 companies with a combined investment of $ 220 Billion

What is the relevance to India ? 

    

Indian political system is a “ Multi-party Democracy “ , hence there is no question of NDA government asking foreign companies to set up “ BJP Party Committees “ in their local establishments !  We are not a “ Dragon Dictatorship “

Then why bring this up ?

Because , Twitter CEO , Jack Dorsey refused to attend the meeting called tomorrow by Shri Anurag Thakur , Chairperson , Parliamentary Committee on IT , to discuss the issue of fake news / misinformation etc , by Twitter

Apparently he thinks “ Twitter is above the Indian Laws “ and not answerable to Anurag !

How does Dorsey get such an impression ?

 

I think he mistakes the politeness of Shri Ravi Shankar Prasadji , who , yesterday said at the Global Business Summit :

“ And if some companies……seek to unleash data imperialism, that will not be acceptable. India is too huge a country to surrender before that .

You need to have data – social , economic .

But that data must be anonymized. If you have this kind of pragmatic ideas, then you would think a good way will be found

But in this debate, every stakeholder has to become pragmatic “

[ source :   Data imperialism by companies not acceptable: Ravi Shankar Prasad   ]

If Indian politeness fails to get our message across, what should we do ?

Bluntly announce our intention to launch IndiaDataCustodian and tell all Social Media sites to sign up agreements with Data Protection Regulator , as outlined in ;

Digital Dividend from Demographic Data [ 4 D ] 

Does any Social Media entity support this view ?

Yes !

At the GBS , Alan Mamedi, co-founder and CEO of TrueCaller said :

“  The fundamental belief of organizations should be that the data belongs to the individual and they are the custodian of such data ………..allowing consumers to trade or benefit off their personal data, is one that needs to deeper introspection “

And Osama Bedier, founder and CEO of Poynt said :

“ Allowing consumers’ greater control over their personal data was a situational issue. … There are things that people profit off, off you, and there is a really good argument there for you to benefit, when others profit “

And Gulshan Rai, National Cyber Security Advisor, said :

“ The country favors data localization to protect its data resources that are more valuable than oil as they are mobile and can be used in different ways.

Every country in the world is doing its own data colonization….

I am in favour of a data protection act because we have no option, because every country has done it and so should we . We have to protect our own businesses and technology development “

[ source :  Firms must ensure onus of data protection is not on consumers  ] 

Rameesh Kailasam, CEO , Indiatech , says :

“ The government is making it clear that there is the rule and you are welcome if you play by the rules. “

[ source :   Govt following China’s stand on data, say industry players   ]

=======================================================

In his speech yesterday at Global Business Summit , Shri Modiji said :

“ For decades, a narrative was made that certain things are impossible in India.

  The progress our nation has achieved since 2014 gives me confidence that nothing is

  impossible for 130 cr Indians “

Dear Shri Ravi Shankar Prasadji,

Does that “ nothing is impossible “ include ,

130 cr Indians submitting their personal data ONLY on IndiaDataCustodian portal , and Social Media web sites compelled to enable log in through ,

SARAL  [  Single  Authentic  Registration , Anywhere  Login  ]   ?

==========================================

==============

26  Feb  2019

Rsvp :  hcp@RecruitGuru.com

United We Stand : Divided We Fall

Just read this in today’s Economic Times :

Companies shouldn’t be allowed to colonise data: Ravi Shankar Prasad  

Extract :

India is keen on the storage of key personal data within the country to prevent “ data imperialism ”, Law, Justice and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said at the Global Business Summit on Saturday 

Context :

Keywords are : Colonization  /  Imperialism

To us Indians , these words bring back the memories of the 150 year long British Rule

How did a few thousand British persons posted in India, manage to “ Colonize “ some 33 crore ( 330 million in ‘40s ) Indians and rule over them ?

It was simple

They ensured that our 200+ princely states do not UNITE , but remain DIVIDED

Even fight with one another !

And how !

In 1943 , I remember travelling by BBCI Railway ( Bombay Baroda and Central India ) train from Bombay to Rajkot  ( now renamed Western Railways )

One had to change trains at Viramgam junction, with the two trains on either side of the platform

In the middle of the platform, were a series of concrete benches , where passengers were required to open their bags ( as it still happens occasionally, at arrivals of International flights ), for examination by “ Jakaatdaars “ – and pay duty for some goods !

I am sure , similar “ Customs Duty “ payments were in force in all the princely states !

WHAT  IS  THE  RELEVANCE  ?

Today, an Indian citizen has to submit , more or less , SAME DATA , again and again on the following web sites :

·         Social Media sites

·         Mobile Apps Sites / Stores

·         E Commerce

·         Banks

·         Fintech

·         Search Engines

·         Buyer-Seller online platforms

·         Job Portals

·         Govt web sites for getting DBT / subsidies / filing returns / documents

·         Govt web sites for lodging all kinds of complaints

·         Web sites of Service Providers ( Mobile / TV Channels etc )

List goes on and on

Each of these entities want to create their own DATABASES of citizens

And hold these DATABASES , close to their chests - never want to share with anyone else

They are behaving exactly like those 200 + princely states , fighting with each other

And the likes of Google – Amazon – Facebook – Apple ( GAFA ) and Twitter etc , want to make sure that these Database-Holders , never unite !

GAFA is the New Emperor ( - a handful , like the British posted in India in 1943 )

Millions of Indian companies ( holding citizen data ) are the New Colony

======================================================

GAFA Emperor ( Twitter CEO ) , Jack Dorsey , has refused to attend the meeting called by Parliamentary Committee on IT , on 26^th Feb

Are we getting his message , viz :

Who are you to say we cannot colonize India ?

=========================================================

Dear Shri Ravi Shankar Prasadji,

 Who ( or What ) can unite us and empower us to throw out GAFA , by telling them :

“  You need to play this game by our rules or Quit India “  ?

Here is the message that India should send to Dorsey :

Digital Dividend from Demographic Data [ 4 D ] 

===========================================

24  Feb  2016

Rsvp :  hcp@RecruitGuru.com

A Minor Matter of Details ?

Some 50 years ago, IIM-A ( Indian Institute of Management – Ahmedabad ) was the only premier management institute in the country

Prof Foltz was a visiting professor from USA, who taught “ Business Policy “

He had a robust sense of humor and used to tell the following story :

Once , a mouse sought consultation from the professor

During the meeting, the mouse said :

“  Sir , I am mortally afraid of the cat which keeps chasing me . What shall I do ? “

Professor : 

“ This is a problem of strategic importance and needs deep analysis. Come back tomorrow “

When mouse turned up next day, Professor said : 

“ I have perfect solution . Turn yourself into a dog “

A very elated mouse ran home, singing “ I need to be a dog . Who is afraid of the big bad cat ? “

Next day , mouse turned up once again at the office of the professor and said :

“  Sir , without doubt , you have come up with the 

perfect solution but HOW do I morph into a dog ? “

To which , with utter disdain , professor replied :

“ Look , Micky Mouse  , as a professor of BUSINESS POLICY , I only pronounce the STRATEGY . I cannot be bothered with working out the minor details of how to implement the POLICY “

=========================================================

BUSINESS  POLICY  :

As far as the menace of BLACK MONEY is concerned , BJP’s 2014 Election Manifesto reads ( pg 4 ) :

Black Money

By minimizing the scope for corruption, we will ensure minimization of the generation of Black Money

 .

BJP is committed to initiate the process of tracking down and bringing back black money stashed in foreign banks and offshore accounts.

We will set up a task force for this purpose and to recommend amendments to existing laws or enact new laws

We will also proactively engage with foreign governments to facilitate information sharing on black money

=========================================================

CONTEXT :

 Just came across following news report :

Black money of Indians stashed abroad is in range of $216bn and $480bn, govt reports 

Extract :

The amount of black money outside India was Rs 9.41 lakh crore or US $ 216.48 billion

between 1990 and 2008, a government-commissioned study has concluded, adding that this amount could be one-tenth of the total estimated illegal wealth.

“ Illicit outflows from the country are estimated on average to 10% of the estimated unaccounted income,” said the study by National Institute of Financial Management (NIFM)

“ Taking the capital outflow worth (stock) US $498 billion, its share in total unaccounted

  wealth can be estimated as 2.8%,” NCAER report was learnt to have concluded.

=========================================================

IMPLICATION :

If 2.8 % amounts to $ 498 billion , then the “ Total unaccounted wealth “ could be as high as $ 17786 Billion ( Rs 1245,00,000 Crore = Rs 1245 lakh*crore )

BLACK MONEY unearthed so far :

#   Black Money ( Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets ) Act – 2015 … Rs  4,100   Crore

#   Income Declaration Scheme/PM-Garib Kalyan Yojana – 2017 …………… Rs  72,200   Crore

#   Benami Transaction Tax – 2016 ( value of attached property )……………Rs    3,500   Crore

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                      Total……. Rs  79,800  Crore  [$ 11 Billion ]

=========================================================

WHAT  NEXT  ?

Without doubt, elimination of the scourge of Black Money will, once again figure prominently in the election manifestos of BJP and Congress

Manifesto drafters are quite like Prof Foltz . Their job is to lay down the POLICY on Black Money

Do not expect them to spell out the DETAILS of how precisely, they will ensure that Rs  1245 lakh*crore worth of Black Money will get unearthed and put to productive use !

But , in case Shri Arun Jaitlyji instructs his Finance Secretary to work out the DETAILS , he may want to look up my following earlier emails

=========================================================

DETAILS  :

Baba Ramdev and Black Money  ………………………………………………………………[  29  May  2011  ]

Magic Wand ?    …………………………………………………………………………………………[  09  June  2011  ]

Create Wealth to Create Jobs  ………………………………………………………………….[  26  Feb  2014   ]

Don't Ask " How " ?  ………………………………………………………………………………….[  07  April  2014  ]

Next 100 Days  …………………………………………………………………………………………..[  16  May  2014  ]

White Holes of Black Money ?  …………………………………………………………………..[  03  June  2014  ]

A CASE FOR ZERO PERSONAL INCOME TAX ………………………………………………[ 11  Nov  2014   ]

A VIRTUOUS CIRCLE ?  ……………………………………………………………………………….[  04  Jan  2015  ]

Making Molehill out of Mountain ? ……………………………………………………………… [ 19   Nov  2015  ]

STRUCTURAL REFORMS ?  …………………………………………………………………………..[  30  Jan  2016   ]

TIME IS NOW !  …………………………………………………………………………………………….[  02  Feb  2016  ]

Don't Expect This in Budget  ………………………………………………………………………..[  28  Feb  2016  ]

Quantum Jump ?  ………………………………………………………………………………………  .[  29  Feb  2016  ]

Making India a Tax Haven ?  ……………………………………………………………………    [ 04  April  2016 ]

FDI : By any other name ?  ……………………………………………………………………..    [ 01  July  2016  ]

Prime Minister Who Listens  …………………………………………………………………………[  03  Dec  2016  ]

One Infrastructure SPV ? More will follow  ……………………………………………….  [20  March  2017 ]

 

What Goes Out , Comes Back ?  ………………………………………………………………….[ 05 May  2017  ]

Private Sector in Infrastructure ?  ……………………………………………………………….[28  July  2017  ]

Nibbling on Crumbs ?  …………………………………………………………………………………  [08  Aug  2017  ]

 

How to Raise $ 500 BILLION  ……………………………………………………………………  [17  Sept  2017  ]

From Garbage to Power ?  ……………………………………………………………………….   [ 16  Jan  2018  ]

=========================================================

22  Feb  2019

Rsvp :  hcp@RecruitGuru.com