- For India, tech sovereignty is more important than ever. It is now a case of life and death because as the fastest-growing economy in the world, tech sovereignty would give India the power to protect its numerous research works and support the bourgeoning entrepreneurial ecosystems.
- Relying on foreign supply chains, particularly from countries like China, for critical technology infrastructure poses significant national security risks, particularly when it comes to electronics items.
- Achieving tech sovereignty would allow India to secure and control its communication systems.
The surprise attack carried out by Israel over Hezbollah using pagers an outdated communication device, has not only stunned the world and caught the imagination of both the supporters and detractors of Israel. However, what has also emerged from this most ingenious strike carried out by the Mossed[1] over the Iran-backed Shia terrorist organisation is now forcing nations to seriously look at Tech Sovereignty.
Tech sovereignty refers to a nation’s ability to independently develop, control, and manage its own technology infrastructure, resources, and digital ecosystem without relying excessively on foreign entities. It ensures that a country has full autonomy over its technological development, data security, and digital infrastructure. Tech sovereignty involves creating local technological capabilities, manufacturing hardware, developing software, and maintaining control over key digital assets such as data centres, cloud services, and telecommunications networks.
For India, tech sovereignty[2] is more important than ever. It is now a case of life and death because as the fastest-growing economy in the world, tech sovereignty would give India the power to protect its numerous research works and support the bourgeoning entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Why India Needs Tech Sovereignty Badly
Data Security and Privacy
Many of India’s digital platforms rely on international companies for data storage and processing, leading to concerns over data privacy, misuse, and surveillance. Strengthening tech sovereignty ensures that Indian data stays within the country’s borders and is governed by local laws.
International tech companies are often subject to their own country’s laws, such as the U.S.’s CLOUD Act[3], which allows American authorities to access data stored by U.S.-based companies, even if the data is hosted abroad.
National Security
Dependence on foreign technology increases vulnerability to cyberattacks, espionage, and other security risks. Indigenous tech infrastructure reduces the threat of backdoors or hidden vulnerabilities that may be exploited by hostile foreign entities.
Relying on foreign supply chains, particularly from countries like China, for critical technology infrastructure poses significant national security risks, particularly when it comes to electronics items. This was highlighted during geopolitical tensions like the India-China border clashes, leading to restrictions on Chinese apps and technology imports.
Geopolitical Independence:
Israel’s success in operating with self-reliant communication systems during its attack on Hezbollah reflects the broader principle of geopolitical autonomy. Nations that depend on foreign technology are vulnerable to international pressure, sanctions, or technology supply restrictions during crises.
For India, tech sovereignty would reduce reliance on foreign nations for crucial technology, making it more resilient in the face of geopolitical shifts. This would allow India to act independently in situations of conflict or tension, without fearing a cut-off of essential technology or communication tools.
Economic Growth and Job Creation:
Developing indigenous technologies can foster local innovation and create a robust tech industry that contributes to GDP growth and reduces dependency on imports. A push for tech sovereignty can stimulate the growth of local startups, leading to more jobs in areas like AI, hardware manufacturing, and software development.
Digital Colonialism and the Need for Strategic Autonomy
U.S.-based tech companies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon dominate India’s digital landscape. These corporations set the rules for data use, digital services, and online platforms, leaving India in a vulnerable position[4]. Cloud services and telecom infrastructure are often owned by foreign corporations, limiting India’s ability to exert full control over its digital economy.
In an interconnected world, technology influences geopolitical power. Countries that dominate global technology, such as the U.S. and China, gain strategic advantages. For India to be a global power, it must have autonomy over its technology resources, which enhances its leverage in international negotiations.
India’s tech ecosystem must foster homegrown innovation in areas like artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing, 5G infrastructure, and cloud computing to reduce dependence on foreign technology.
Regulation and Compliance:
India’s control over its digital infrastructure would allow it to shape internet governance according to its interests. This is important in setting rules for content regulation, data localization, and digital taxation.
Tech sovereignty allows India to ensure that tech companies operating within its borders comply fully with its laws on data privacy, cybersecurity, and digital payments, among others.
Global Competition and Innovation:
As technologies like AI[5], quantum computing, and blockchain become critical, India needs to invest in indigenous research and development (R&D). Without tech sovereignty, India risks falling behind in global technological competition. India needs to develop its own intellectual property in fields like AI, semiconductors, and telecommunications to remain competitive globally.
Steps India Is Taking Toward Tech Sovereignty
- Digital India Initiative: A government-led initiative to transform India into a digitally empowered society with local digital infrastructure.
- Data Localization Policies: India is pushing for data localization laws that require companies to store data locally to prevent foreign access.
- PLI Scheme for Electronics: The Indian government introduced the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to boost local manufacturing of electronics, especially smartphones and semiconductor chips.
- Banning of Chinese Apps: After security concerns, India banned several Chinese apps and is fostering local app development as an alternative.
Lessons from Israel, Learning from Military Technology and Tactics
Israel’s use of pagers shows the importance of having access to a variety of technologies that can be adapted quickly for military use. In times of conflict, reliance on modern, internet-based communication channels can be easily disrupted by hacking, jamming, or interception. Having alternatives in place ensures adaptability.
India needs to invest in R&D[6] for military-grade communication technologies that can function independently of global systems like the Internet. By controlling its technological supply chain, India can develop alternatives that are less likely to be compromised in warfare.
India’s push for tech sovereignty would ensure that critical data and communications are not routed through foreign servers, as this poses a major risk in times of geopolitical tensions. Local control over data and communications enhances security. By relying on foreign-built networks and communication devices, India exposes itself to espionage risks. Israel’s choice to avoid mainstream communication channels shows the importance of keeping sensitive operations off commonly used networks that can be penetrated.
The Israel-Hezbollah conflict highlights that a country’s technology strategy in warfare must be unpredictable. India needs to be capable of using a combination of old and new technologies to stay ahead of adversaries who might be focused on hacking or intercepting modern communication methods.
Tech sovereignty ensures that India’s defence sector can develop flexible, resilient, and indigenous technology solutions, avoiding dependence on foreign systems that might be predictable or susceptible to interception.
India realised the need for tech sovereignty in the year 1999 when the Kargil War [7] took place. India had requested the US GPS data that was needed by the Indian military to locate the region occupied by Pakistani troops, but the US government withheld the information.
The Kargil War led India to develop its regional navigation satellite system, called NavIC, which is similar to GPS. NavIC provides real-time positioning and timing services. ISRO has developed chips that can be used in handheld devices like smartphones to enable NavIC. It was a hard lesson for India and now as India marches towards becoming the third-largest economy, tech sovereignty has to be one of the cornerstones of its national security apparatus.
India’s heavy reliance on foreign communication infrastructure, including telecom networks and cloud services, creates significant vulnerabilities. These systems could be monitored or shut down during conflicts by adversaries or foreign powers, potentially compromising national security. Achieving tech sovereignty would allow India to secure and control its communication systems.
India’s need for tech sovereignty becomes even more pressing in the light of conflicts like the Israel-Hezbollah scenario. Israel’s unconventional use of pagers shows how critical control over communication networks and technology can be during warfare. For India, securing tech sovereignty would mean enhancing cybersecurity, achieving self-reliance in defence technologies, and protecting its communication infrastructure from foreign influence. By investing in indigenous technologies, India can ensure national security, military resilience, and economic independence in a rapidly changing global landscape.
India’s need for tech sovereignty stems from the growing importance of technology in national security, economic growth, and strategic autonomy. By reducing dependence on foreign tech companies and building its capabilities, India can protect its data, create jobs, and enhance its global standing.
References:
- [1] https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/israel-hezbollah-pager-blast-manufactured-shell-company-bac-explosive-pagers-covert-operation-lebanon-hungary-2602750-2024-09-19
- [2] https://www.rndtoday.co.uk/entrepreneurial-ecosystems/can-india-increase-its-technological-sovereignty/
- [3] https://www.justice.gov/criminal/cloud-act-resources
- [4] https://irga.in/world_desc.php?id=1217
- [5] https://www.meity.gov.in/emerging-technologies-division
- [6] https://mod.gov.in/dod/sites/default/files/TPCR13.pdf
- [7] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/navic-two-decades-after-us-spurned-india-in-kargil-country-replies-with-desi-gps/articleshow/64643986.cms?from=mdr
Balaji is a freelance writer with an MA in History and Political science and has published articles on defence and strategic affairs and book reviews. He tweets @LaxmanShriram78. Views expressed are the author’s own.
Aayush Pal 
Palak Dogra