India’s Digital Sovereignty: Why Experts are Worried About Dependency on US Tech

India’s Digital Sovereignty: In the current digital age, our lives have become heavily dependent on American technology and software. From morning to night, most of the digital services we use are controlled by American companies. While this dependency has made our lives easier, it hides a significant risk. Recently, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) issued a warning to India on this matter. According to them, excessive reliance on American software, cloud services, and social media could pose a major threat to India’s economic stability. To escape this situation, India must achieve “Digital Sovereignty.”

What Are the Key Risks?

According to the GTRI report, India’s digital infrastructure could face a severe crisis if the US were to impose sanctions for any reason. In such a scenario, American digital platforms and software could stop functioning in India, potentially crippling several of the nation’s critical services.

• Service Disruption: Digital payments, tax filings, and various government services that rely on American technology could come to a complete halt.
• Impact on Smartphones: Nearly 500 million smartphones in India run on Google’s Android operating system. If Google were to cut off its services, the functionality of these phones would be severely impaired.
• Lack of Alternatives: Unlike countries such as Russia and China, which have developed their own digital ecosystems (e.g., Telegram, WeChat), India currently lacks indigenous alternatives, leaving it more vulnerable.

The “Digital Swaraj Mission”: The Path to a Solution

To overcome this crisis, GTRI has proposed a “Digital Swaraj Mission.” Its primary goal is to build India’s own digital infrastructure so that we do not have to depend on any external powers in the future.

The mission emphasizes the following steps:

• Short-Term Plan (1-2 years): Mandate sovereign cloud hosting for critical government data and pilot Linux-based systems in key ministries to replace Microsoft.
• Medium-Term Plan (3-5 years): Fully migrate government departments to Indian software and build a strong public-private cybersecurity consortium.
• Long-Term Plan (5-7 years): Achieve cloud parity, replace foreign software in defense and other critical sectors, and develop indigenous social media platforms.

According to experts, achieving this goal will not be easy. It requires a significant amount of time, money, and proper planning. However, for a country like India, attaining digital sovereignty is not just an option—it’s a necessity. There is no other way to ensure the nation’s economic security and stability.