Google CEO Sundar Pichai pens letter to Ravi Shankar Prasad advocating free cross-border data flow

New Delhi, September 10: Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai has written to IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad advocating free flow of data across borders. He said that such a step will encourage global companies to contribute to India's digital economy.

 

In a letter earlier this week, which was made available to the media, Pichai said that the free flow of data across borders would also benefit Indian startups looking to expand globally. The Google CEO also said the company remains firmly committed to being part of the Indian growth story.

He said that the company's Indian team will be in touch with Prasad's office in connection with certain specific topics of discussion during the meeting. Google has not responded to questions about e-mails regarding this. This is the time when Google is engaged in making a law of data security in the country and the government has received a draft and its recommendations from the High Level Committee headed by Retired Judge BN Krishna in July.

Earlier this week, the government reiterated its firm stands on data privacy and against online platforms abusing data to impact free choice in India. In July, the Justice BN Srikrishna Committee on data protection in India submitted its report to the government suggesting amendments to various laws, including the Aadhaar Act, to provide for the imposition of penalties on data fiduciaries for violations of the data protection law.