AK Sharma
CITING the example of aviation sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the need for global standards on artificial intelligence (AI) and data privacy. Such an approach, he said, was needed for safety and security in an interconnected world.
Speaking at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2024 in New Delhi on October 15, the Prime Minister called for a unified, international approach to ensure the ethical use of AI and the protection of personal data. “Create global standards for ethical AI and data privacy that also respect the diversity of different countries,” he said. “Just as we have created a framework of global rules and regulations for the aviation sector, the digital world also needs a similar framework,” he added.
PM Modi asked the World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly (WTSA) to work on this and create global standards for ethical AI and data privacy to respect the diversity of different countries. “I would like to ask every member of WTSA to think about how to make telecommunications safe for everyone. In this interconnected world, security cannot be an afterthought,” he stressed.
PM Modi said India’s Data Protection Act and National Cyber Security Strategy show its commitment towards creating a safe digital ecosystem. “Now the time has come that global institutions will have to accept its importance for global governance. Do’s and don’ts will have to be made at the global level for technology,” he added.
Spectrum allocation
PM Modi said all the digital tools and applications that are available and used today are beyond restrictions, beyond the boundaries of any country. Therefore, no country can protect its citizens from cyber threats alone.
At the event, the Government announced that it will allocate spectrum for satellite broadband services administratively, avoiding the auction route. Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated that the spectrum will be allocated according to Indian laws, with prices set by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai). “If you do decide to auction it, then you will be doing something which is different from the rest of the world,” he said.
