Indian regulators' mantra to check the big tech boom

Around the world, the blind belief in self-regulation as the guiding principle for the internet is slowly fading. Indian regulators may have found part of the answer in reining in the likes of Amazon, Google and Facebook, which have, for long, been left unregulated. Will others follow suit?

Consumers and competitors alike have asked for governments to regulate the growing power of big tech companies

The Indian regulators have taken a range of steps that have been instrumental in holding these companies liable for their actions

Also, steps to prevent them from eating away their competition

But do these steps really ensure that the consumer or market benefit in the long-term?

India’s tech regulators aren’t exactly known for being cutting edge in their thinking or nimble in their speeds. Quite the contrary.

Besides, it isn’t even clear how many regulators there are, or what exactly each one’s remit is. It’s an abundance of big egos, old bureaucrats, secretive committees, power plays and turf wars.

Pharma, telecom, financial services and e-commerce are just a few of the industry sectors where companies and business models have been either extinguished or supercharged due to regulatory decisions.

AUTHOR

Vishal Rakhecha

Vishal Rakhecha is a student from the NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad. He is interested in Technology and IP law. Having interned with lawyers for the most part of his student life, he wanted to try his hand at tech journalism by interning at The Ken.

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