Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday expressed serious concern over India’s data sovereignty, questioning the government’s silence on how Indian data will be protected amid expanding global tech partnerships. In a post on his WhatsApp channel, he said that India’s data belongs to its citizens, and in the emerging AI-driven economy, it can serve as a major national asset for building technology, companies, and employment.Referring to the recent trade engagement with the United States, Gandhi said he asked the government direct questions on what “reducing barriers” in digital trade actually means.
He sought clarity on whether India’s health, financial and government data would continue to remain stored within the country, and whether India would still retain the right to require foreign firms to store their data locally for developing indigenous AI capabilities.However, Gandhi alleged that the government repeatedly offered vague responses centred on words like “framework,” “balance,” and “autonomy,” without giving any meaningful specifics. He accused the Centre of hiding critical details and failing to explain what it might be conceding in negotiations.Gandhi said a country aspiring to lead the global technology race should not be left in the dark about crucial data protection issues. Citizens, he added, deserve full transparency and accountability regarding how their data is handled and used.In his question to the IT Minister on April 1, Gandhi also asked whether upcoming commitments with the U.S. could dilute India’s ability to enforce data localisation, restrict foreign access to sensitive digital systems, or regulate AI now or in the future.
