OTT, AI, Ad Tech to Digital Push: Rajeev Chandrasekhar Lists Modi Govt’s Plan for Third Term

Ad tech policies and revenue to OTT rules and artificial intelligence’s (AI) challenges, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for Electronics and Technology, laid the roadmap for the third term of the PM Modi-led government, as he spoke at the Storyboard18 DNPA Conclave and Awards 2024 on Tuesday.

‘ADTECH REGULATION A PRIORITY FOR MODI GOVT IN THIRD TERM’

The Narendra Modi government will prioritise ad tech policies and regulations to cater to the longstanding demands of the digital news publishers who have been suffering revenue losses to big techs, he said.

“We are concerned about the deep asymmetry between the content creators and those who can help them to monetise it. From a policymaking point of view, we want the internet to be open and we certainly do not want monetisation on the internet to be in the purview or to be controlled by just one or two or three companies,” the minister said. “We are very clear that we don’t want monopolies and duopolies in the space…We are certainly not of the opinion that our internet with 120 crore Indians that are going to be consuming it by 2025 should be catered to by the big islands on the internet be on e-commerce or search or social media or ad tech. That is the basic principle that guides our approach to this issue as a government.”

The minister highlighted how the pre-consultation draft of the Digital India Act looked to solve the visible asymmetries between the digital publishers and the big tech companies. “The big tech platforms are gatekeepers to monetising content and that asymmetry needs to be legislated, or at least regulated through rules of a new legislation. And I’m hopeful that after Narendra Modi ji resumes office this year, this will be his priority,” Chandrasekhar added.

OTT: ‘JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE ON THE NET DOESN’T MEAN THE LAW WON’T TOUCH YOU’

The minister also addressed stakeholder concerns on OTT regulations. He pointed out that those who consider the IT Rules arbitrary or far reaching have not analysed the rules well. “If you read the rules, you will find that the rules are absolutely clear, simple and consistent guardrails to protect the consumer. What we laid down are 11 types of unlawful content that should not be on any platform because they are not just unlawful as per the IT act, but also unlawful under the Criminal Code. For example, CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material). Nobody can argue that prohibiting child sexual abuse material on any platform or the internet is far reaching,” he said.

“Just because you are on the internet doesn’t mean the laws of the land will not touch you,” the minister added.

‘FEARING TECHNOLOGY IS LIKE FEARING THE INEVITABLE’

According to Chandrasekhar, the Indian government is actively addressing the obstacles and challenges of AI, alongside recognising its benefits. “I don’t believe we should fear technology. It’s like fearing what is inevitable. AI stands as the greatest invention in our lifetime. Our focus should be on not resisting this change, but on fully harnessing it,” he said, adding, “When it comes to AI, the progress in the last few years has been immense. It’s inevitable that AI will profoundly shape, change, and transform our lives, redefining what we consider normal.”

According to him, the focus should not be on resisting the change that AI has brought to the ecosystem, but harnessing it intelligently. “We need to create guardrails and instil accountability on platforms offering AI solutions, ensuring the safety and trust of these platforms. Whether you’re a big tech company from the US or elsewhere, a company in India, or a small or large entity, what you provide to our consumers must be safe and reliable. The internet cannot be a testing ground. What the consumers consume have to be tested and deemed safe on priority before going live,” he said.

“We have to have legislative guardrails that ensure platforms are accountable for what they are putting out for people to use. It is a shared goal for anybody who wants the Internet to be robust, healthy and profitable and rather than being a toxic place,” the minister said.

‘POLICY-MAKING, GOVERNANCE ENABLER OF SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURSHIP’

Chandrasekhar said the Modi government was committed to promoting digital innovation and will continue these efforts during his third term. “All of us are now aware of the transformations that have taken place in the last 10 years. We can observe significant changes in almost every segment of our lives. Particularly in the digital and tech space, the transformation has been spectacular. This transformation is a significant one and aligns with our Prime Minister’s vision. We are committed to protecting and fostering this evolution in the days to come,” he said.

“Essentially, over the past 10 years, the well-thought-out policies of our Prime Minister have been geared towards enabling and empowering talent and facilitating the success driven by initiative and effort, principles that consistently yield positive results,” Chandrasekhar said.

The biggest challenge, according to the minister, is to make the Indian talent pool truly global standard. “This is a challenge and a goal at the same time. We need to aim for this in areas like semiconductors and artificial intelligence. It is no longer sufficient to be just an engineer or to have a master’s or even just a few years of experience; you really need the ability to research and innovate. Research and innovation should be embedded in your colleges, universities, and workplaces,” he said.

According to Chandrasekhar, the announcement of $12-billion seed money for research and innovation in the budget is an example of how much importance the Prime Minister places on shaping and catalysing the potential of young Indians who are trying to reach a global standard.