Internet must always remain open, safe; rules-based accountability important: MoS IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar

Creating a culture of rule-based accountability among large digital platforms is important to ensure that internet remains open and safe for all users, Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on Monday. India is emerging as a large internet economy with 80 crore Indians online, a number that is expected to reach 120 crore, he said.

According to him, internet is driving the digital economy and the laws and rules around it will be “measured, consultative and looking at the future”.

“Internet for all of the good things represents the ability to deliver good governance, ability for last person in democracy to reach out to government… but also represents significant growth in things we refer to as user harm and criminality and so policy making has to address… grow the good, and address the bad in a manner that is transparent and effective,” he said.