New Delhi: Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology, declared the maturation and strengthening of multistakeholderism in India during his keynote address at the third edition of the India Internet Governance Forum (IIGF).
Multistakeholderism is a governance model that involves diverse stakeholders, including government, private sector, civil society, and experts, in decision-making processes. This approach fosters collaboration and inclusivity, ensuring that policies and regulations reflect the varied perspectives and interests relevant to the subject at hand, particularly in contexts like internet governance.
Chandrasekhar stressed the importance of diverse voices in shaping the Internet’s future, affirming that efforts have been made to ensure the representation of individuals impacted by its growth in discussions.
Chandrasekhar said, “This multistakeholderism will be the cornerstone of how the future of the Internet will be shaped – policy-wise, regulation-wise, and technology-wise. India is certainly on the fast track to growth in the digital space. Currently, we stand as the largest connected democracy in the world and indeed the largest connected bloc of people on the global Internet.”
The Minister noted that India serves as a case study for the positive impact of emerging technologies and AI in fostering inclusion and empowerment, and it ensures all users have access to a secure, open internet, holding intermediaries and platforms accountable for their conduct and any harm under Indian law.
S. Krishnan, Secretary of MeitY, highlighted the need for collective efforts across diverse sectors to effectively navigate the complexities of the internet. He also acknowledged initiatives such as the introduction of Internationalised Domain Names (IDNs) to promote a multilingual internet and bridge the digital divide.
Joint Secretary of MeitY, Sushil Pal, cautioned against the potential of emerging technologies to deepen digital insecurities and vulnerabilities, leading to frequent breaches of personal data and the persistent threat of cyber-attacks.
The India Internet Governance Forum remains associated with the UN Internet Governance Forum (UN-IGF), serving as a multi-stakeholder platform for representatives to discuss public policy issues related to the Internet.
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