PM Modi calls for global framework to tackle cyber frauds, deepfakes, digital crimes

The Prime Minister's call for a global framework underscores a critical shift in Cyber Security: digital threats like financial fraud and deepfakes are increasingly transnational, rendering localized responses insufficient. Deepfakes, utilizing Artificial Intelligence to create highly convincing but fake audio or video, pose a significant threat to democratic processes, individual privacy, and national security, falling under the purview of cyber warfare and misinformation campaigns. The lack of a binding international treaty, similar to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime (which India has not signed), complicates cross-border investigations and enforcement. A global mechanism, potentially involving bodies like the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), is necessary to establish common definitions, facilitate intelligence sharing, and coordinate takedowns of malicious infrastructure. For UPSC, understanding the limitations of domestic laws like the Information Technology Act, 2000 in addressing extraterritorial cybercrimes and the imperative for international cooperation is essential.

India's stated goal to lead in 6G technology represents a strategic shift from being an adopter (in 4G) to a pioneer in global technological standards. The establishment of the Bharat 6G Alliance and the filing of significant international patents indicate a proactive approach to shaping the intellectual property landscape of next-generation networks. 6G is anticipated to offer speeds significantly faster than 5G, enabling advanced applications in areas like holographic communication, precision manufacturing, and immersive reality. Furthermore, hosting the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) and the upcoming Plenipotentiary Conference reinforces India's growing influence in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), allowing it to advocate for standards that align with its national interests and developing world priorities. This aligns with the broader push towards Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), where India's success with Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is being leveraged as a model for global export.

The article highlights the profound economic impact of India's telecom revolution, demonstrating a transition towards a digital economy. The drastic reduction in data costs (from ₹268/GB in 2014 to ₹8/GB) has been the primary driver of digital inclusion, enabling the massive scale of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions, which now account for 84% of domestic digital payments. The $15 billion **BharatNet** project is a critical **infrastructure** initiative aimed at bridging the rural-urban digital divide by providing middle-mile connectivity to gram panchayats and on-demand high-speed internet to villages, a prerequisite for equitable economic growth and e-governance delivery. Furthermore, the growth of the mobile phone manufacturing sector, from a$2-3 billion industry to a $63 billion industry, highlights the success of import substitution and export promotion policies under the Make in India initiative, positioning India as the world's second-largest producer. Aspirants should focus on how digital infrastructure acts as a multiplier for economic formalization and manufacturing growth.