Centre’s Plan for Access to Big Tech’s Anonymised Data

Why in news:

• The Indian government is considering a mandate for big tech companies like Facebook, Google, and Amazon to deposit all non-personal data they hold to the India datasets platform.

Definition and Use of Anonymised Data:

• Anonymised data refers to datasets without personally identifiable information, such as aggregated health data, climate data, or traffic patterns.

• The government views this data as crucial for developing artificial intelligence (AI) models.

Implications:

• If implemented, big tech firms might assert intellectual property rights over this data, leading to discussions about data ownership.

• The proposal suggests that since these companies have benefited from algorithms based on Indian users’ data, they cannot claim exclusive rights over it.

• India Datasets Platform: The platform is envisioned as a national data sharing and exchange hub, involving various stakeholders like governments, private sector, academia, and civil society.

• Initially, the IT Ministry “encouraged” private companies to share non-personal data. However, recent statements suggest a shift towards a more assertive stance on data sharing.