India's Digital Sovereignty: Lessons for Developing Nations in Balancing Security, Civil Rights, and Economic Sovereignty
Keywords:
Digital sovereignty, digital economy, cybersecurity, digital rights, technological independenceAbstract
This article analyzes India's pursuit of digital sovereignty as a case study for developing nations in balancing security, civil rights, and economic sovereignty. The study finds that India's approach is characterized by three key features: domestic data localization requirements to prevent foreign access, particularly from the United States, development of domestic digital infrastructure such as UPI and Aadhaar, and protection of critical digital assets from foreign control. India attempts to establish a third way between the US market-driven approach and China's state-centric approach. However, implementation faces challenges in policy execution, establishing economic balance among stakeholders, and addressing civil rights concerns. Based on this case study, the article recommends that developing nations should prioritize developing modern and flexible legal frameworks, building regional cooperation to increase bargaining power, promoting sovereign digital infrastructure development, and establishing mechanisms to balance state control with civil rights. India's experience provides valuable lessons for establishing sustainable digital sovereignty aligned with democratic principles.
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