The colonial penal code never imagined a world where software, not a human, amplifies hatred. Section 197 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita now penalises ‘acts prejudicial to national integration’ carried out through electronic communication.
The fallout of the ChatGPT Confession Files, where a leak resulted in large tracts of sensitive private and proprietary data becoming public, has been a hard lesson to learn: that even cutting-edge technology is only as safe as its most misunderstood feature. For India’s global technology sector, where clients rely on ironclad privacy and stewardship, the stakes are uniquely high.
Artificial Intelligence is a transformative technology offering developmental opportunities for marginalised communities across developing and emerging countries. However, the costs of AI access through private platforms are becoming exclusionary, negating these opportunities. It is critical to make the advantages of AI available to all. The G20 nations can invest in open source technology and create an AI Stack similar to the India Stack, for public benefit.