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Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS) has undertaken many research, advocacy, networking and capacity building initiatives, within the realm of digital economy. Keeping consumers at the centre by adopting a bottom-up approach, CUTS has actively deep dived into various issues pertaining to consumer welfare, competition, and economic regulation, in many sectors such as: fintech, telecom, e-commerce, and urban mobility.
Evidence-based studies in these sectors on issues such as encryption, privacy and data protection, coupled with CUTS advocacy and outreach efforts to relevant regulators, policy makers/influencers and media, among other stakeholders, have allowed it follow an outcome driven approach while pursuing its mission of ‘Promoting Fair Markets to Enhance Consumer Welfare and Development of Digital Economy in India and abroad’.
Financial Services
Research Projects
- Implementation of RBI’s Tokenisation Directive in Consumer Interest (CoFT Project)
- Competition and Regulatory Assessment in Digital Payments Infrastructure Sector
- Developing regulatory interventions to address regulatory and competition bottlenecks in growth of payments banks
- Presentation for RBI Committee on Deepening Digital Payments
2019
- CUTS Comments for the Reserve Bank of India on Discussion Paper on Guidelines for Payment Gateways and Payment Aggregators
- Presentation for RBI Committee on Deepening Digital Payments
- Contribution to Reforms in Digital Payments Sector in India
- CUTS comments on Report of the Working Group on FinTech and Digital Banking
Media
2019
- Digital payment apps need to be more user-friendly: CUTS International
- Did you know: More than half the shops in Indian cities don’t accept digital payments
Outreach
2021
Advocacy
- Comments on SEBI Consultation Paper on Strengthening Investor Grievance Redressal by harnessing ODR mechanisms
- Comments on SEBI Consultation Paper on Green and Blue Bonds as a mode of Sustainable Finance
- Comments on the RBI Discussion Paper on Charges in Payments Systems
- Comments on NITI Aayog’s Discussion Paper on ‘DIGITAL BANKS : A Proposal for Licensing & Regulatory Regime for India’
- Comments on RBI’s report of the working group on digital lending including lending through online platforms and mobile apps, 2021
- CUTS comments on the Consultation Processes Undertaken by Monetary Regulatory Authorities Globally
- Submission of Comments to the Reserve Bank of India on Policy Paper on Authorisation of New Retail Payments Systems
2023
2022
2021
2019
Telecom
Research Projects
- Understanding and Highlighting Consumers’ Perspectives in the debate of regulation of Over the Top (OTT) Communication Services
- Understanding and Highlighting Stakeholders’ Perspectives on Caller Name Presentation (CNAP) in Telecommunication Services
- Understanding Consumer Perspectives on 6GHz Band
- TV Consumer Market Study
- Ethical 6G – Identifying Elements of Ethical Framework for 6G and Creating Opportunities for India and Australia
- Consumer Broadband Labels for Greater Transparency & Informed Consumers
- Coding and Enforcing Mobile Internet: Quality of Standards in India
- Documenting Use Cases & Impact of OTT Services-A Case Study of Rajasthan
- Promoting Innovation and Competition for Efficient Use of Intellectual Property in India (CompIP Project)
Briefing Papers
Research Reports
Advocacy
- CUTS comments on TRAI Consultation Paper on Review of Quality-of-Service Standards
- Collective Consumer Representation on implementation of Caller Name Presentation (CNAP) in Telecom Services
- Counter Comments on TRAI Consultation Paper on ‘Introduction of Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) in Telecommunication Networks’
- Comments on TRAI Consultation Paper on ‘Introduction of Calling Name Presentation (CNAP) in Telecommunication Networks’
- Comments on Draft Indian Telecommunication Bill, 2022
- Submission on the DoT Consultation Paper on Need for a New Legal Framework for Governing Telecommunication in India
- CUTS Counter Comments on TRAI’s Consultation Paper on Market Structure/Competition in Cable TV Services
- CUTS comments on the Information Technology Intermediary Guidelines (Amendment) Rules, 2018
- CUTS comments on regulatory framework for OTT communication services
- CUTS Comments on Draft National Digital Communication Policy 2018
2024
2023
2022
2021
2019
Network and Capacity Building
2019
- Round Table Discussion on Evolving Role of Online Intermediaries: Retaining Trust, Re-imagining Safety (New Delhi)
2018
- Roundtable on “Design in India to Maximize 5G Opportunities”(New Delhi)
- Seminar on Empowering India Digitally: Enhancing Broadband Quality & Enabling Consumer Choice (New Delhi)
- Seminar on Information Disclosure for Broadband Services: Empowering Informed Choices in the 4G Era (Kolkata)
- Seminar on Information Disclosure for Broadband Services: Empowering Informed Choices in the 4G Era
Media
2019
- Intermediaries guidelines may create an environment of distrust among consumers of online economy: CUTS International
- Parliamentary Committee pushes IT amendments, WhatsApp discusses impacts
- Now, an App to help you decide the best telecom service provider in your area
2018
- 5G standards will assume centre stage during roll out: Telecom Secretary.
- Telecom sector needs to open doors for more disruptive innovations: DoT Secretary
- Government should incentivise local cos for 5G to succeed in India: Report
- Open doors for more disruptive innovations, along with strengthening consumer protection and rights – Aruna Sundararajan, Secretary, DOT
2017
- TRAI Supports Net Neutrality and Consumer Welfare Prevails
- “Need for Broadband Labelling in India, quite timely to adopt in India to empower consumer choice”, R S Sharma, Chairman, TRAI
- Srikrishna Committee to look into TRAI’s ‘timely’ recommendations: Aruna Sundararajan
- TRAI Initiates Public Consultation on Labelling Broadband Services in India
- TRAI Exploring Labelled Broadband Services
- Make labelling mandatory for broadband services
- Consumer rights activists propose ‘broadband labels’
- Broadband labelling crucial to empower consumer experience: TRAI
- Wireless connectivity in India has experienced 90 percent growth: TRAI Chairman
- Need for broadband labelling to empower consumer choice: TRAI
- Need ‘broadband labelling’ to safeguard consumer interest: TRAI
- Telecom operators must ensure minimum speed commitment; Consumer forums should be friendlier: TRAI
E-Commerce
Research Projects
- Consumer Grievance Redressal (CGR) 2.0
- Fostering an Inclusive E-commerce Ecosystem in India
- Status of E-consumers in India (SECI)
- Understanding the Impact of Data Localization on Digital Trade
- Promoting Innovation and Competition for Efficient Use of Intellectual Property in India (CompIP Project)
- Regional Inclusive Growth Project – Diginomics-I
Advocacy
2022
2021
2019
- CUTS Comments on CCI Market Study on E-Commerce in India
- CUTS Comments on Draft E-Commerce Guidelines for Consumer Protection, 2019
- Submission of comments to DPIIT on draft National E-commerce Policy
Network and Capacity Building
2019
2018
- Conference on “Unlocking The Potential: Digital Economy in India & South East Asia (Bangkok Thailand)
- Panel Discussion on “Digital Economy, Innovation and Competition” (New Delhi)
Media
2020
- UNIDO and CUTS look to E-commerce to Counter Economic Impact of COVID-19
- Digitalisation of economy & bridging the digital divide a must, for becoming a US$5tn economy by 2024-25: Injeti Srinivas, Secy, MCA
- Digital economy eco-system discussed
- Digital economy poses challenges to both market participants, regulators: CCI Chairperson
2019
- With optimal competition and regulation, digital economy can make USD 1 trillion of our USD 5 trillion economy in next five years – Jay Panda, National Vice President, BJP and Former MP
- Digital technologies sector should be assessed under CCI: MCA Secretary
- RBI should obtain self-certification from relevant e-commerce companies: CUTS to RBI
- Domestic, foreign e-commerce players should be treated alike: Cuts International
2018
- Existing competition tools inadequate to address issues related to monopoly of data, feel experts
- Lack of tech innovation ecosystem a challenge for policy makers, industry: CUTS
- Pradeep Mehta from CUTS International nominated as member of think-tank to finalize framework for national policy on e-commerce
- Flipkart-Amazon combine may face close scrutiny for competition aspects
Urban Mobility
Research Projects
- An Evidence-Based Analysis of Relevant Market- The Case of Ridesharing in Delhi-National Capital Region (India) [SSRN]
- Regulatory Impact Assessment of Maharashtra City Taxi Rules, 2017
- Competition Assessment of The Ride Sharing Industry
- Developing Optional Regulatory Framework for Taxi Aggregators in India
Advocacy
- CUTS Comments on CERC’s Draft Order on Mechanism for Compensation on account of change in law for compliance with Revised Emission Standards notified by MoEF&CC in respect of competitively bid thermal generating stations
- CUTS Comments on the MNRE’s Draft Policy Framework for Developing and Promoting Distributed Renewable Energy Livelihood applications
- CUTS Comments on RERC’s Suo-moto Draft Order (Charging Infrastructure, Tariff and Other Regulatory Issues for Electric Vehicles)
2021
2020
Privacy and Data Protection
Research Projects
- “My data or yours?” Unravelling Multi-Party Privacy (MPP) among Consumers of Digital Credit in India
- Research-based Advocacy on Unintended Lacunae of including aspects of NPD in PDPB
- Highlighting Inclusive and Practical Mechanisms to Protect Children’s Data
- Examining the Rationale, Assumptions and Approaches to Non-Personal Data Sharing (NPD)
- Understanding Consumers’ Perspective on Encryption
- Understanding the Impact of Data Localization on Digital Trade
- Consumer Impact Assessment on Cross-Border Data Flow
- Data Privacy and User Welfare in India: User Perception Analysis
Advocacy
- CUTS Comments on the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022
- Comments on Proposed draft amendment to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021
- Comments on National Data Governance Framework Policy 2022
- Comments on Draft India Data Accessibility & Use Policy, 2022
- CUTS Comments on the Revised Report of Committee of Experts on Non-Personal Data Governance Framework
- CUTS Comments for Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (e-Governance Division) on Draft Data Centre Policy, 2020
- CUTS Comments for NITI Aayog on Discussion Draft of Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture, 2020
- CUTS Submission of Comments on Health Data Management Policy to The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- CUTS Comments on the Report by the Committee of Experts on Non-Personal Data Governance Framework
- CUTS Submission to Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on Strategy for National Open Digital Ecosystems
2023
2022
2021
2020
- Counter comments on the submissions made to MEITY on Draft of ‘The Information Technology [Intermediary Guidelines (Amendment) Rules] 2018
- CUTS comments on the Information Technology Intermediary Guidelines (Amendment) Rules, 2018
- Personal Data Protection Bill 2019
- CUTS Comments on the draft Personal Data Protection Bill 2018
- CUTS Memorandum to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology, Pertaining to Citizens’ Data Security and Privacy
2019
2018
Network and Capacity Building
- Round Table Discussion on Evolving Role of Online Intermediaries: Retaining Trust, Re-imagining Safety (New Delhi)
- Consumer Awareness Workshop on Data Protection and Privacy & Impact of Personal Data Protection Bill, 2018 (Kolkata)
- Consumer Awareness Workshop on Data Protection and Privacy & Impact of Personal Data Protection Bill, 2018 (Jaipur)
- Workshop on Measuring the Impact of Data Localisation on Consumers (New Delhi)
- Round Table Discussion on “Consumer Sovereignty in Times of Data Localisation” (New Delhi)
2019
2018
Media
- Data protection bill in its current form has many loose ends which may have unintended adverse impact on MSMEs, start-ups: CUTS
- Despite the deletion, Facebook still keeps personal information
- We are unknowingly leaking personal information
- The attempt to balance competing interests by Data Protection Committee should now be accompanied by a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis: CUTS International
- Is privacy an elitist concern? Not so, says new survey
- Let Indian users decide on data localisation: Experts
- CUTS International organises roundtable entitled Consumer Sovereignty in times of Data Localisation
2019
2018
Outreach
- Webinar: Optimal Governance of Non-Personal Data
August 11, 2020
Others
Research Projects
- Protecting Online Rights of Changemakers (PORCH)
- Ease of Doing Digital Business [EoDDB]
- Manthan Series to Foster Digital Economy in India
- Cyber Safe East India – Workshops on Cyber Security for MSMEs
- Do Users in India, Kenya and Ghana React Differently to Problematic Content?
- Regional Inclusive Growth in Digital Economy
- Consumer Friendly Cable TV System: Survey Results on Cable TV in India
Policy Briefs
- Women and Tech: Bringing Gender Equality in the Digital Ecosystem
- Policy Brief on Digital Healthcare in India : A way Forward
- Policy Brief on ‘Fintech’: A Way Forward for Inclusive Financial Growth
- Policy Brief on Education and Technology : Way Forward For Inclusive Growth
Briefing Paper
Advocacy
- CUTS Comments on the draft amendments to IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 in relation to Online Gaming
- Submission to MeitY on Online Gaming, 2022
- CUTS Comments on the Consultation Paper on Unified Health Interface
- CUTS Comments on the Niti Aayog’s Draft Guiding Principle for the Uniform National-Level Regulation of Online Fantasy Sports Platforms in India