THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 19 october 2019 (Taking national data seriously (The Hindu))

Taking national data seriously (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2: International Relations
Prelims level: Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
Mains level: Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership negotiations

Context

  • In a digital economy, data is the central resource. Data is being considered as a nation’s new wealth.
  • It is feared that all other countries, including the European Union (EU) and major developing countries such as India, will have to become fully digitally dependent on one of the two digital superpowers, China and the USA as almost all top digital corporations in the world are U.S. or Chinese.
  • And seven of the top eight companies globally today are databased corporations. In this context, it is necessary to understand the importance of data, issues related to data sharing and way forward in this regard.

What is the importance of data?

  • It is the basis of detailed and deep intelligence about a community.
  • It can be used to manipulate or cause harm to the community.

What are the issues related to sharing of data?

  • Global corporations like to consider data as a freely shareable open resource until the data is out there, with the people, communities, etc. But the moment they collect the data, it seems to become their private property and they refuse to share it, even for important public interest purposes.
  • At RCEP India may accept the free flow of data with certain public policy exceptions but it is seen that such exceptions never work well. This can lead to permanent digital dependency, with India’s data, flowing freely to data intelligence centres in the U.S., and now some in China.

What can be done?

  • The French and the U.K.’s AI strategies, numerous EU documents, and India’s NITI Aayog’s AI strategy, focus on one central issue — more datasharing within the country, and better access to data for domestic businesses but this cannot happen until the US or China remains the owner of data.
  • French AI strategy calls for an aggressive data policy, and control on data outflows. NITI Aayog’s AI strategy has sought mandated sharing of data for social purposes which are steps in the right direction.
  • Community data inscribed in India’s draft e-commerce policy considering the community’s legal right over data which it produces must be supported.
  • A complex and gradual process of classification of various kinds of data, and developing governance frameworks around them, is required.
  • We need to begin dealing with the very complex data policy issues, including data classification, data ownership rights, data sharing, data trusts, and so on.

Conclusion

Prelims Questions:

Q.1) The colonial period has had many effects on the fabric of Indian society. When it comes to the peasants, which of the specific issues evoked anger in them?
(1) Changing Political Relations
(2) Changing Economic Relations
(3) Changing Agrarian Relations
(4) Changing Land Use patterns

Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 3 and 4 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 3 and 4 only

Answer: B
Mains Questions:
Q.1) India must not trade away its national data rights at the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership negotiations. Comment.

UPSC 2019
Civil Services EXAM
Civil Services Preliminary
Civil Services Mains
IAS PRE GS
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