US Tech Ban: Trump will ban Google, Instagram in India? What will happen then? Zoho founder’s reply stirs debate!

US Tech Ban: A serious debate has recently sparked on social media, discussing what would happen to the country if Donald Trump imposes a ban on US tech companies in India. If services like Google, Instagram, and ChatGPT are banned in India, our digital economy could come to a sudden halt. This concern intensified after a prominent Indian billionaire expressed his worries on the matter.

Harsh Goenka’s Viral Post

This discussion began with a viral post by renowned Indian billionaire Harsh Goenka, which received nearly 1 million impressions. Goenka imagined a scenario where Trump could pass a new law preventing US tech companies from providing services in India.

In his post, he also highlighted the increasing racism against Indians on platforms like x.com (Twitter) and Instagram. According to Goenka, this situation is “frightening,” and it is time for India to think about a ‘Plan B’.

Zoho Founder’s Response

Sridhar Vembu, the founder of the popular Indian software company Zoho, responded to Harsh Goenka’s post. Agreeing with Goenka, he stated that India’s tech dependency is not limited to just a few apps but runs much deeper.

• Dependency Beyond Apps: Vembu pointed out that we are heavily reliant on US companies not just for apps, but also for operating software (like Apple and Microsoft Windows) and computer chips.
• Proposal for a National Mission: To overcome this dependency, Vembu emphasised the need for a “10-year National Mission for Tech Reliance.” He estimated that a corpus of about 40 to 50 billion dollars might be required for this.
• Indigenous Alternatives: He mentioned Zoho’s own app, ‘Arattai’, as a good start, although he admitted that it needs more promotion for wider adoption.

Is This Ban Really Possible?

Could the United States actually impose such a ban on India? Various aspects have been analysed to answer this question:

• Economic Rationale: From an economic perspective, the possibility seems low. US tech companies earn approximately $40 billion annually from India, which is a significant amount. The US government would not want to lose such a large market.
• Political Rationale: However, modern politics is not just driven by “sense” but also by “emotion” and voter base support. Trump might take a drastic step, similar to the H1B visa issue, to please his voters.
• Geopolitical Rationale: Generally, the US does not ban its social media apps as they are a major tool for its “soft power” and influence in other countries.

Conclusion: The Need for a ‘Plan B’

In conclusion, India must view its dependence on US technology as a potential threat. Donald Trump could use this dependency as “leverage” to negotiate better trade deals with India.

Therefore, this is no longer a hypothetical question. The only option for India is to develop its own technological alternatives as soon as possible. This would send a clear message to the United States that such a ban would not give them any significant leverage over India.