India, EU to work on rules, standards for tech industry: MoS IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar

India and the EU have decided to harmonise regulations on technology and jointly work on rules and standards for the broader industry, including Big Tech and top social media giants. The move comes within months of the country signing a strategic partnership with the US on critical and emerging technology, minister of state for IT & electronics Rajeev Chandrasekhar has said.

“India and EU have agreed to work on creating trusted and resilient supply chains for electronics, in semiconductors, AI, quantum computing and emerging technologies. We will also work together to shape the future of regulations for the internet in areas, such as, privacy and user harm,” Chandrasekhar told TOI, while outlining broadening of relations with European countries in areas of IT and electronics.

The minister said with the EU and US partnerships in place, India will now play a key role in defining the future of technology, as well as that of trade.

EU has globally been at the forefront of defining regulations around the internet and user privacy and had introduced the General Data Protection Regulation in 2016. The bloc is also working on a regulatory framework and rules around AI-heavy smart tech platforms such as ChatGTP, including in areas related to bias of algorithms and copyright.

Speaking about the agreement with the EU that was signed during a recent ministerial visit to Brussels, where Chandrasekhar was present, along with foreign minister S Jaishankar and commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal, the IT minister said there would be a series of milestones that will emanate from partnership over 8-12 months. “There is a deep interest on how India is looking at online and data regulations because we are the largest community on internet today with over 800 million users and an estimated 1.2 billion by 2025-26.”

Chandrasekhar said there is appreciation on India’s work on crucial subjects, such as, Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, Digital India Act, and also on how the government is handling online user harm or building guardrails for AI. “So, India’s presence on the global internet eco-system is very significant today. There is a need to participate with, and partner, India when it comes to shaping the future regulations and standards.”

Speaking about expected outcomes from the EU agreement, Chandrasekhar said the government expects joint ventures and investments in areas such as semiconductors and electronics, apart from looking at partnerships for getting manufacturing into India. “We also hope that there will be enhanced work on joint innovations.”