The recent discussions around India's Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) rules have resonated deeply with my long-held reflections on data, privacy, and the evolving nature of information. When I see prominent voices like Manish Tewari describing these regulations as potentially creating an "Orwellian state" – a sentiment he shared on social media [https://x.com/ManishTewari/status/1996770712334618874, https://www.facebook.com/ManishTewariMP/photos/an-orwellian-state-how-new-digital-personal-data-protection-rules-make-a-compreh/1423306662494069/], I can't help but feel a profound sense of validation, albeit with a renewed urgency for caution.
For years, I've pondered the trajectory of data and its power. Back in 2010, I famously predicted that "in another 25 years, no one will search for 'INFORMATION' on Google – Yahoo – MSN etc. They will enter their current / expected 'problem' in a hand-held device and receive readymade 'solution / answer / advice' in milliseconds!" Future of Search Engines. This vision, though focused on convenience, inherently recognized the massive data processing and predictive capabilities required to understand an individual's 'problem' and provide a 'solution'. Today, the DPDP rules raise the specter of these same capabilities being wielded by the State, not just for convenience, but for potentially intrusive oversight into our digital existence – our very digital soul.
My concerns about the unravelling of privacy with advanced semantic search capabilities were articulated again in 2018 when Google announced its 'Talk to Books' feature. I questioned, "A further unravelling of Privacy?" Quantum Jump?. The ability to search for 'meaning' rather than just keywords, and to plug such intelligence into social media, has always had two sides: immense utility and profound implications for individual autonomy. The DPDP rules, in their current form, seem to push the balance towards the latter, granting the State significant access and control over this 'meaningful' data.
Reflecting further, I recall my extensive work on data mining with Ms. Rohini Damahe and Mr. Shuklendu Baji, particularly our project aimed at predicting job market trends from millions of advertisements Dear Deepak:. I saw how analyzing vast datasets could reveal patterns, predict future occurrences, and even understand the "Database of Intentions" of employer companies. I wrote, "What we want to do with 5 million job advts database, is quite similar – viz; predict WHO (which Company / Industry), will advertize WHAT (vacancies / positions / designations) and WHEN (time). It is do-able!" This understanding of data's predictive power makes me acutely aware of the potential for the State to analyze our digital interactions – our emails, social media activity, browsing habits – to predict our behaviors, preferences, and even intentions. The mechanisms are fundamentally similar.
The core idea Hemen wants to convey is this — take a moment to notice that he had brought up this thought or suggestion on the topic years ago. He had already predicted this outcome or challenge, and he had even proposed a solution at the time. Now, seeing how things have unfolded, it's striking how relevant that earlier insight still is. Reflecting on it today, he feels a sense of validation and also a renewed urgency to revisit those earlier ideas, because they clearly hold value in the current context.
Indeed, my foundational understanding of artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and neural networks dates back to 1996 Introduction to the basics of AI, NLP, and neural networks – Circa 1996. I’ve seen these technologies evolve from theoretical concepts to tools that underpin much of our digital world. The power they offer is immense, and their application in data governance, especially by the State, requires careful consideration lest we cede our digital liberties unknowingly.
The concern isn't just about data, but about the 'digital soul' of citizens – the sum total of our online existence, thoughts, and interactions. The DPDP rules, while aiming for protection, must ensure they don't inadvertently create an avenue for comprehensive state surveillance, turning the promise of a digital future into an Orwellian reality.
Regards,
Hemen Parekh
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