Cultivating Digital Sovereignty:

 

 Cultivating Digital Sovereignty: The Imperative for Desi Social Media Platforms

Article link: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/need-desi-social-media-platforms-to-secure-digital-sovereignty-pm/articleshow/123327780.cms

Extract from the article:

In a clarion call to the Indian youth, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the urgent necessity of developing indigenous social media platforms akin to global giants like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). His appeal was not merely technological but deeply rooted in the concept of digital sovereignty — the imperative to safeguard India’s data, wealth, and technological ecosystems from external dependencies. PM Modi underscored the risks inherent in relying on foreign social media platforms, which often leads to the outflow of wealth and potential vulnerabilities in data security. His vision is to see India harness its vast talent pool to build homegrown digital infrastructure that can stand resilient and self-reliant in the digital age.

The Prime Minister’s message, delivered on the nation’s 79th Independence Day, resonates with a broader strategic objective: to reclaim control over the digital realm and ensure that India’s digital future is architected by its own innovators. This is a call to action for the youth to channel their creativity and technical prowess into creating platforms that not only rival but also redefine social media paradigms on Indian terms. The emphasis on indigenous platforms is a profound step towards economic retention, data privacy, and technological empowerment, reflecting a vision where digital sovereignty becomes synonymous with national pride and security.

My Take:

A. IDEAS for INDIA STACK PLATFORM

"The underlying essence of digital governance lies in creating a robust, secure, and indigenous technological framework that empowers every citizen and protects national interests. Mobile technology, as I highlighted years ago, is the Messiah for India’s connectivity and governance ambitions. The vision to build homegrown platforms that safeguard data sovereignty and prevent wealth leakage was already germinating in my thoughts and writings, paralleling PM Modi’s recent exhortations."

Reflecting on this blog from 2016, it is striking how prescient those ideas were. The emphasis on leveraging India Stack and indigenous platforms as pillars of digital empowerment aligns perfectly with the current push for ‘desi’ social media. The continuity of this vision underscores not only its validity but also the urgent need to accelerate its realization. The digital ecosystem must be nurtured with an eye toward sovereignty and inclusivity, and the youth are indeed the architects of this future.

B. Dear Vaishnawji & Chandrasekharji: Monetizing Personal Data Using Web 3.0

"The conversation around data ownership and monetization is evolving rapidly, and the onus lies on India to shape global norms that empower democracy rather than undermine it. The idea that social media and emerging technologies should serve as enablers of democratic engagement—while safeguarding personal data—is a theme I have championed, echoing PM Modi’s calls for secure technological ecosystems."

Looking back at this discourse from late 2021, it is evident that the seeds for digital sovereignty and indigenous innovation were sown well before the current clarion calls. The alignment between the policy vision and the technological roadmap is crucial. The invocation of Web 3.0 technologies as a means to reclaim data ownership and ensure secure platforms resonates deeply with the current imperative to build desi social media alternatives that reflect Indian values, privacy norms, and economic interests.

Call to Action:

To India’s vibrant youth, technologists, entrepreneurs, and policymakers: The moment to act is now. Harness your ingenuity to build indigenous social media platforms that reflect India’s ethos, protect its digital sovereignty, and retain economic value within our borders. Innovate with security, privacy, and inclusivity at the core. To government and industry leaders, create enabling ecosystems—through funding, policy support, and infrastructure—that nurture these homegrown ventures. Our digital future depends on it, and the world will watch as India redefines the narrative of technological self-reliance.

With regards, Hemen Parekh