DIGITAL INDIA ACT, 2023 (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Polity)

Context: Policymakers and legal experts recently expressed concerns that unfinished technology policies and laws, including the overarching Digital India Act (DIA), may be sidelined. 

Digital India Act, 2023

• About: It is designed to address the challenges and opportunities presented by the dramatic growth of the internet and emerging technologies.
• Replaced: Two-decade-old Information Technology Act of 2000 (IT Act).
• Key Components of DIA:

oOpen Internet: It should have Choice, Competition, Online diversity, Fair market access, and Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Compliance for Startups.

oOnline Safety and Trust:  Addressing user harm issues such as revenge porn, cyber-flashing, and cyber-bullying, along with age-gating to regulate addictive tech and protect minors' data. Ensuring digital user rights, including the right to be forgotten and secure electronic communication.

oAccountable Internet: Establish adjudicatory and appellate mechanisms for accountable digital operators and update the intermediary framework. Implement disclosure norms for data collected by intermediaries exceeding a certain threshold.

• Objective: Accelerate innovation and technology ecosystem growth.

oManage internet complexities and expanding intermediaries.

oCreate a framework for digitalizing government and strengthening democracy.

oProtect citizens' rights and address emerging technologies and risks.

oEnsure systems are future-proof and future-ready.