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A Connected World
Getting Regulation Right in a Global Digital World:
Universal service, Competition, Consumer Protection, Competition, Ethics and Privacy have become even more significant given that Digital Technologies increasingly underlie the economic, social and political aspects of our lives. Artificial intelligence and the Metaverse are here to stay and Singularity is probably not as far as we may imagine. The global nature of these issues calls for international collaboration, cooperation and judicious regulation. This blog discusses these contemporary issues from the author’s multi-speciality perspective and offers unique and thought-provoking insights.
Oct 9, 2017
Mexico Earthquake-Lessons for Indian Authorities and Indian Telecoms
On the afternoon of September 19, 2017 Mexico City was struck by an earthquake of 7.1 magnitude that injured thousands, rendered...
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Aug 17, 2016
Universal Service: Regulation, Competition and Contemporary Issues
Its been a long time since I wrote. An invitation to speak at a Conference on Universal Service in India in the context of India’s...
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Aug 10, 2016
Universal Service: Regulation, Competition and Contemporary Issues (Presentation Slides)
Paper presented at National Seminar on USOF for Digital India, Organised by NICF, Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, 10.8.2016 DOWNLOADS: 46...
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Feb 17, 2016
Hitting the Nail on the Head
It was a delight to read an article titled, “ Net neutral, shift gears” It reiterates strongly the reasons why hard won net neutrality...
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Feb 14, 2016
NOFN-Do we need PPP or plain USOF subsidy?
I reproduce below a news item regarding TRAI recommendations on NOFN I have previously pointed out that the simplest and fastest route...
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Dec 6, 2015
NOFN/BBNL-Back to Square One Almost
I have not written for a while. Been busy in another sphere of regulation. However, I was drawn back to my much neglected blog by TRAI’s...
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May 6, 2015
NOFN-Getting it wrong yet again
An editorial humorously titled “ Optical Illusion ” correctly points out that the latest government effort to revive BBNL / NOFN by way...
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Dec 28, 2014
Competitive Neutrality in Liberalized Sectors of the Economy
I have been blogging about the need for competitive neutrality mostly in the context of broadband networks. However, the importance of...
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Oct 3, 2014
Broadband Planning in India-Missing the Wood for the trees
I reproduce below the text of my article with the same title. It was published in the Financial Express today. In the recent TRAI...
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Sep 13, 2014
Lessons from Down Under
An article titled “ Australia’s Last Chance for Infrastructure Competitio n” describes failed opportunities as far as introducing...
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Aug 26, 2014
If wishes were horses…
It is reported that, ” [t]he cabinet on Wednesday approved the ambitious Digital India programme that aims to connect all gram...
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Feb 22, 2014
Disruptive Technology and Public Funding of High Speed Broadband Networks
In my posts on the issue of National Broadband Plan and Broadband Networks , I have consistently cautioned against creating publicly...
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Jan 22, 2014
Delay in NOFN Roll Out-As Expected
The Economic Times today reports yet another delay in roll out of NOFN by BBNL as the PSUs are unable to award contracts worth Rs 6...
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Jan 14, 2014
Progress the E-way
A though provoking article “ Solving Social issues through Technology ” draws attention to the progress India has made in the realm of...
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Dec 20, 2013
Is this what NOFN was Meant to Do?
Another article appeared today in the Economic Times about NOFN/BBNL plans to acquire an ISP license to provide e-services based on...
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Dec 19, 2013
Limiting Public Funding to Access Gaps
It is reported that the fact Sing Tel Optus has plans to roll out fibre to the “basements of apartment buildings and shopping...
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Dec 13, 2013
The NBN Debate Continues-Lessons for India’s NOFN?
It is reported that an independent review of NBN ordered by the new Coalition Government of Australia has found that NBN costs and time...
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Nov 30, 2013
Wi Fi Internet for Indian Village Local Government Offices-Going Around in Circles?
A news item in the Times of India (November 30, 2013) titled “Govt clears internet wi-fi plan for rural India” states that a proposal to...
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Nov 30, 2013
Internet for Indian Villages-Where does the solution lie?
One possible answer is that we have to encourage community participation rather than purely top down supply side big schemes. We have had...
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Nov 24, 2013
USOF India-Problem of Plenty
My last post suggested that perhaps USOF India needs to consider a review of regulation to ensure a level playing field. It should not...
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Oct 25, 2024
Universalising Digital Transformation by Safeguarding Digital Rights-Teaching Bright Minds at the Law Institute Nirma University, Ahmedabad
My focus when teaching digital regulation and digital transformation is always on trust and consumer-centric design. I thoroughly enjoyed...
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Oct 2, 2024
AI and Liberty, A Topic Less Tantalizing
Kahlil Gibran is credited with saying, "Life without liberty is like a body without spirit." My question is, what will human existence be...
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Aug 24, 2024
No (,) End (to) Spam and Scams
In the past few months, I have received countless spam calls and messages to the point that I have become robotic about disconnecting...
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Jun 20, 2024
AI and Human Creative Content: Plaigirism and Petty Theft
An article in today’s Economic Times draws attention to the problem of Artificial intelligence-related plagiarism. I was happy to read...
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Jun 19, 2024
Responsible AI and Applications in Higher Education
I recently moderated a panel AI in Higher Education on June 15, 2024 . It was interesting and informative and the panel was brilliant....
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May 13, 2024
Barbie or Ken, No Perfect Ten- For my Students
Are we Going Backwards? It was disturbing to read the recent Economist article about the hardening of conservative and chauvinistic...
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May 9, 2024
The Writing on The Wall-When Consumers Can Choose, They Do
Getting Regulation Right Recently, I spoke in an International Telecommunications Union expert panel on Data Protection in a joint...
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Apr 3, 2024
Tech Regulation and E-Commerce are Interrelated
Getting Regulation Right: E-commerce means that there is even more at stake for the consumer. E-Commerce and the Digital Consumer Having...
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Mar 16, 2024
The Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin of Digital Regulation?
Getting Regulation Right: Regulating AI Harry Potter struggled between Gryffindor and Slytherin before choosing.However, to get...
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Nov 25, 2023
Should AI Governance be Another Race to Dominate, or Should We Work Together to Safeguard Humanity?
AI Governance, Trust and Humanity. Artificial Intelligence is here to stay. Social media is rife with helpful content about how we must...
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Oct 8, 2023
Don’t Kill the Golden Goose; or Is This About Saving Red Riding Hood?
The Competition and Innovation Story : Part I An oft-asked question that has cropped up more than once during my ongoing course on “Ex...
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Sep 25, 2023
It’s Now, or Never Part II: The Era of Convergent and Collaborative Regulation
I recently advised a young team from a global Tech startup on AI Governance; we discussed the issue of divergent and evolving regulatory...
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Sep 23, 2023
Why Wait for Regulation? Digital Markets Need New Business Models
Why wait for regulation? While mavericks will play their part, Tech. Giants could lead the way with new, consumer-friendly business...
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Sep 11, 2023
It’s Now, or Never-Responsible Digital Transformation Requires Solid Global Governance.
It’s Now, or Never-Responsible Digital Transformation Requires Solid Global Governance. The G 20 New Delhi Leaders Declaration has won...
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Sep 8, 2023
Why Privacy Matters-Dark Patterns & Other Realities
Why Privacy Matters in a Digital World – Dark Patterns and Other Realities. Various Indian newspapers have reported today that the...
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Aug 25, 2023
A Heartening Clarification on Privacy
In a Democracy, the choice of how to regulate matters involving protecting citizens’ rights should be straightforward. An elected...
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Aug 16, 2023
The Dawn of a New Era in the Saga of Digital Transformation; Some Things Never Change
Hear from an influential thought leader and digital transformation speaker . Global Digital Transformation began with landlines and is...
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Aug 14, 2023
An AI Atlas-Mapping Uncharted Territory
This is recommended reading for anyone interested in AI regulation. It is hard to put down the ‘Atlas of AI’ by Kate Crawford. The book...
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Jul 21, 2023
Why Do We Need Ex Ante Regulation of AI? Is Self Regulation Not Enough?
Algorithmic regulation should be rooted in ethics and be legally enforceable. As human creations, algorithms are controlled by us; we...
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Jul 16, 2023
The Teaching of Public Policy
Teaching my discipline, i.e., Public Policy (in my case, with an emphasis on Technology), has a long theoretical legacy. However, the...
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