'Data Is The New Oil': S Jaishankar Promotes Importance Of 'Trust, Transparency' At Tech Summit

“We cannot be agnostic about technology,” stressed Jaishankar as he said that in today’s world, data “is the new oil”.

Jaishankar said that India’s interest lies in a cumulative assessment of “politics, energy, economics”, with a focus on tech. 

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The Global Technology Summit is currently underway in New Delhi, with ‘Geopolitics of Technology’ set as this year’s theme. Speaking at the inaugural session, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar touted the importance of data, trust, and transparency between nations and how technology plays a crucial role in promoting geopolitical stability today. 

“Countries have fashioned their national security decisions and what kind of influence they will get by applying technology,” Jaishankar said. The minister added that India’s rise in the current geopolitical scenario is deeply linked with the “rise of Indian technology”.

“We cannot be agnostic about technology,” stressed Jaishankar as he said that in today’s world, data “is the new oil”. “Have to stop pretending that there is something neutral about it,” the minister added. “Stong political connotations are inbuilt into technology.”

Jaishankar said that India’s interest lies in a cumulative assessment of “politics, energy, economics”, with a focus on tech. 

Speaking on transparency in data, Jaishankar said, “All partners are not same & thus today trust & transparency have become key issues. We have in our domain like Telecom saw in India the concept of a trusted provider.”

“I think on digital side, we are going to hear more about the concept of trust with geographies,” Jaishankar added. 

Co-hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs and Carnegie India, the Global Technology Summit will last until December 1. During the summit, experts from sectors such as technology, government, security, space, startups, data, law, public health, climate change, academics, and the economy will discuss tech and its future, along with ideas for India’s G20 presidency. 

(With inputs from IANS)