The Coronavirus pandemic has compelled organizations to shift to a remote working model overnight. As a result, organizations are frantically moving towards cloud computing and software products. As per a new IDC report, 64% of organizations in India are expected to increase their demand for cloud computing, while 56% are expected to demand for cloud software to support the new normal.
In this technology-dominated era, automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are becoming the main drivers for many businesses. The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated digitalisation by putting “remote everything” as the default setting. Over the last few years, India has emerged as a leading innovator when it comes to technological advancements and a primary market in the digital space. At the same time, we have also seen in the rising of mental health risks during COVID times, there was an increase in the number of suicides by 8-18% in the next 1-2 months after celebrity suicide reports.
Hence, India needs an actionable agenda to assist individuals contemplating suicides, or fighting the social stigma associated with discussing mental health. Definitely, it is a good news, on the recent announcement by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on India’s first-of-it’s kind “plasma bank” in the country for treating Fight COVID-19 patients. The first-ever plasma bank for treatment of coronavirus patients in the national capital, after receiving positive results on multiple clinical trials.
After receiving multiple complaints from various sources on some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India, The Ministry of Information Technology Bans Tiktok, Shareit ,UC Browser and atleast 59 Chinese mobile apps which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.
With tensions simmering, New Delhi has been mulling punitive economic steps that would hurt Chinese interests. With key countries across the world looking at moving their supply chains out of China in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, China would not like to see its trade ties with India worth an estimated $90 billion, mostly in China’s favour, affected. says experts.
The Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) has also received many representations from citizens regarding security of data and breach of privacy impacting upon public order issues. Likewise, there have been similar bipartisan concerns, flagged by various public representatives, both outside and inside the Parliament of India. There has been a strong chorus in the public space to take strict action against Apps that harm India’s sovereignty as well as the privacy of our citizens.
On the basis of these and upon receiving of recent credible inputs that such Apps pose threat to sovereignty and integrity of India, the Government of India has decided to disallow the usage of certain Apps, used in both mobile and non-mobile Internet enabled devices. Cyber Experts says, there would be more to follow in the second list .This move will safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and internet users. This decision is a targeted move to ensure safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace.
