A Balancing Act

As a concept, Big Tech has four key markers:

The collection, analysis and monetisation of data is central to their business models.

They have achieved immense scale quickly through network effects. This insulates them from competition, contributes to their size, and often results in market dominance.

They also provide essential market and informational infrastructure for a digital economy and society. 

Through their consumer-facing products and services, that enable essential services like news, commerce and societal interactions, they increasingly play civic functions in society.

Big Tech poses a wicked problem for public policy, bringing both benefits and harms.

Big Tech companies provide digital infrastructure for other businesses; promote R&D and innovation; and have the capacity to represent industry perspectives in policy discussions. 

But they also have certain anti-competitive and monopolistic practices. They are able to use their position as both platform providers and platform participants to privilege their own products and services and enter new product markets. Their interests are also often over-represented in policy discourses. 

Most Indian internet users rely on one or more Big Tech platforms to access information, communicate, and participate in political and social life.

But this also gives them inordinate influence in shaping the exercise of the constitutional right of free speech. Through their algorithms which curate and amplify news and information, they wield immense gatekeeping powers. Their platforms also facilitate the spread of misinformation and are prone to politicisation.

Big Tech companies enable access to a wider and personalised range of services. In addition to consumer convenience, such personalised services can allow users to feel visible and empowered. 

But the extensive collection of granular data also undermines individual and group privacy, as well as capacities for self-determination.

Addressing wicked problems requires pursuing multiple policy pathways. 

Update Competition Policy to include control over data and network effects. ‍

Platform Neutrality, so that Big Tech platforms cannot unfairly discriminate against other businesses using their platform.

 Platform Interoperability, to enable consumer choice and reduce the weight of network effects.

Publisher Ethics, so that News and social media platforms are held to the same ethical standards as legacy media.

Algorithmic Accountability,  to identify, assess and penalise harmful algorithmic amplification.

Media Literacy, to enable citizens to take more considered decisions

Individual and Collective Rights, for citizens to take decisions about how their data is collected and processed by large tech companies, and hold these companies accountable for misuse.

Data Stewardship Models, that allow individuals to safely share their data with businesses.

Privacy Protecting Business Models that reduce Big Tech companies commercial dependence on processing of personal data.

Almost all policy pathways require balancing between competing priorities and interests. Choosing between them is a matter of competing public values, not questions of right or wrong, nor a matter that can be resolved by more evidence alone.

We propose the following normative principles to help steer between competing public values, and guide India’s digital economy and society. 

Innovations should prioritize individuals’ agency, material well-being, autonomy, and democracy

Regulation will be required to ensure that innovation is aligned with societal trajectories.

A vibrant public discussion on the role of technology will help navigate the uncertainty that may result from technological innovation.

Technology should protect its users by default to ensure the well-being of each individual, especially vulnerable groups.