The government is laying stronger data protection laws for internet users. Union IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad highlighted government’s concerns in an interview with ET.
Referring to government’s stance on Facebook-Cambridge Analytica matter, IT minister said that social media platforms must ensure that they are not used to defame other users, promote terrorism and extremism. Platforms like Facebook must not be allowed to abuse election process. He further added that Twitter’s policy head has ensured the government that the company is working on preventing the abuse of the platform.
The IT minister also emphasized upon government’s efforts to support the electronic manufacturing industry. The Make in India program has helped in the adoption of electronics manufacturing. India had just 2 mobile manufacturing companies in 2014, now the country houses 118 such companies.
The reduced customs duty of 20% is applicable on two components- higher basic customs duty is applicable on finished products while lower basic customs duty applies on subassemblies which are manufactured out of the country. The entire ecosystem of mobile manufacturing consists of 58 mobile handset makers, 28 adapter chargers, 19 battery pack manufacturers and 4 wired headsets.
IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad believes that the data protection law can become a benchmark for India. He said, “The Supreme court under the privacy judgment has made a very important observation that privacy is the biggest shield of the corrupt and the terrorist, therefore the balance has to there. And India with its 1.3 billion population, our data availability should lead to proper data innovation.”