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Quarterly Newsletter Issue #12
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Dear Readers,
Greetings!
In the latest edition of InnovTech@CUTS, we bring you key updates from our recent policy engagements, submissions, and capacity-building initiatives across India’s digital and telecom ecosystem. We submitted detailed recommendations on the Draft National Telecom Policy, 2025 and the Draft Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Amendment Rules, 2025. In both, we stressed the need for a modern, innovation-enabling regulatory architecture that is proportionate, interoperable, and grounded in privacy and competition principles. Our submissions also highlighted concerns regarding excessive compliance burdens, regulatory overreach, and the potential impact on consumers, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and the broader digital economy.
Additionally, we covered highlights from the AI for Good Global Summit organised by the International Telecommunication Union in Geneva.
In India, we continued to engage stakeholders on cloud competition, and the geopolitics of AI Regulations, and cybersecurity capacity-building workshops for MSMEs across Rajasthan, West Bengal, and the North East. These efforts remain central to strengthening digital resilience, fostering informed policy debate, and amplifying the voices of businesses and users in the regulatory process.
We welcome your thoughts and hope you find this edition insightful.
Amol Kulkarni
Director (Research)
CUTS International
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CUTS Comments on the Draft National Telecom Policy, 2025
Ujjwal Kumar and Krishaank Jugiani
CUTS CCIER, August 14, 2025
CUTS submitted comments on the Draft National Telecom Policy, 2025, acknowledging the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for initiating a timely and forward-looking consultation. Key recommendations include:
- Renaming the Policy as the ‘National Digital Communications Policy 2025’ to reflect a broader ecosystem that includes satellite, non-terrestrial networks, and emerging digital platforms.
- Positioning 6G as a strategic national priority with an International Mobile Telecommunications 2030-aligned roadmap grounded in cybersecurity, privacy, competition, and sustainability, supported by global collaborations and innovation ecosystems.
- Reassessing the proposal for mandatory biometric identification, which may introduce new privacy and security risks and is better addressed through comprehensive cybersecurity frameworks.
- Promoting complementary reforms, including Cable Landing as a Service, ease of doing business in satcom and undersea cables, consumer broadband labels, stronger integrated-network cybersecurity, and the adoption of Technology Impact Assessments alongside Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs).
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CUTS Comments on the Draft Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Amendment Rules, 2025 – RIA
Krishaank Jugiani
CUTS CCIER, July 24, 2025
CUTS submitted comments on the Draft Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Amendment Rules, 2025, based on a RIA. Key recommendations include:
- Reconsidering the scope of the proposed Telecom Identifier User Entity category, which risks extending telecom-style obligations to non-telecom digital platforms, raising legal and constitutional concerns.
- Addressing significant cost burdens from verification fees, with even at low rates, could impose hundreds to thousands of crore rupees in annual costs on major platforms, such as PhonePe, Zomato, and Uber.
- Preventing exclusion of users on shared devices, where failed verifications could limit access to essential digital services and shift costs to consumers, disproportionately affecting low-income households.
- Reconsidering IMEI verification fees, which could reduce affordability in second-hand device markets and disproportionately impact the poor.
- Mitigating financial strain on small retailers, who may face added costs, that reduce digital adoption and hinder competition and startups.
- Adopting a harmonised, risk-based regulatory approach aligned with existing frameworks, supported by inter-ministerial coordination, sandbox testing, and thorough impact assessments prior to rollout.
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CUTS Bulletin on AI for Good Global Summit
Geneva, Switzerland, July 08-11, 2025
This bulletin highlights the key outcomes from the AI for Good Global Summit organised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in partnership with over 40 UN Sister Agencies and co-convened with the Government of Switzerland in Geneva, Switzerland from July 08-11, 2025.
The summit showcased AI’s transformative potential for sustainable development, resilience, and equity. Key initiatives showcased included AI-enabled tools for smallholder farmers, early-warning systems for climate and health crises, AI-powered public services, and child safety technologies embedded in mobile devices.
FAO and other partners highlighted AI applications in sustainable agriculture and localised advisory services. Ethical and inclusive AI remained central, with emphasis on privacy, youth empowerment and capacity building. Discussions underlined the importance of human-centric AI, scenario planning for societal shifts, and the need for equitable, collaborative, and responsible global adoption.
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Fixing the gender gap in India’s ride-hailing services
Sanchita Chatterjee and Bhavika Khatter
Policy Circle, August 03, 2025
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Govt should revisit draft Telecom Cyber Security Amendment Rules, 2025: CUTS International
The Hindu Business Line, July 29, 2025
Draft telecom cybersecurity rules may raise compliance costs for firms, impact digital adoption
ET Telecom, July 29, 2025
Proposed mobile number validation rules to raise costs for start-ups, MSMEs, marginalised groups
The Hindu Business Line, July 29, 2025
‘Regulatory overreach’: Industry groups warn against expansive telecom cyber rules
The Telegraph, July 30, 2025
Concerns mount over DoT's draft telecom cyber rules
Communications Today, July 30, 2025
Industry bodies flag concerns over draft telecom cyber security rules; warn of regulatory overreach, cost burdens
ANI, The Tribune, and Awaz -The Voice, July 30, 2025
Digital industry slams telecom cybersecurity rules for overreach, cost burden and privacy risks
Moneycontrol, July 30, 2025
Big tech firms cry foul over India’s new phone verification rules, cite privacy concern, costs
Livemint, July 30, 2025
Digital firms flag jurisdiction, cost concerns over draft mobile validation rules
The Hindu, July 31, 2025
DStv Price Dispute: Lack of competition law fuelling consumer exploitation – CUTS Int’l
Citi Newsroom, August 01, 2025
Sri Lanka’s India-Funded Digital ID Signals Broader Shift In South-South Tech Cooperation
ETV Bharat, August 03, 2025
GST Council May Grant Small Vendors Relief Amid GST Notice Frenzy, But What If Merchants Discourage UPI Use?
MediaNama, August 06, 2025
Ad & Media agencies under ED scanner over surrogate marketing of gambling sites
StoryBoard18, August 18, 2025
Unlocking E-Pharmacies’ Potential Key For Safe And Affordable Healthcare: CUTS International
Tripura Star News, September 05, 2025
MultiChoice customers likely to see price cuts – CUTS International
Citi Newsroom, September 05, 2025
CUTS International focuses on unlocking e-pharmacies’ potential key for safe and affordable healthcare
Pharmabiz.com, September 08, 2025
Why the DOJ Antitrust Verdict Against Google Still Leaves Room for Its Monopoly
MediaNama, September 08, 2025
Are Offshore Platforms A Bigger Problem Than India’s RMG Sector?
MediaNama, September 23, 2025
What Are The Social Costs And Role Of Self-Regulation In RMG Sector?
MediaNama, September 26, 2025
10th edition of Policy Debate on “The Global Chessboard: Is India Aligning or Defining?”
SCC Online, September 30, 2025
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Cybersecurity Training for MSMEs Across India
 CUTS International conducted Cybersecurity Building Workshops for MSMEs in Rajasthan, West Bengal and North East. The workshops, organised in collaboration with local industry associations, brought together entrepreneurs and workers from diverse sectors, including rubber harvesting and processing, food processing, agriculture-based businesses, jewellery and accessory making, small retail businesses, handicrafts, and local transportation services. The initiative aimed to enhance cybersecurity awareness among MSME owners, employees, and business associates, focusing on both common and often overlooked cyber risks.
The sessions emphasised secure digital practices, such as safe digital payments, recognising phishing attempts, managing app permissions, enabling two-factor authentication, and protecting business data. Real-world anecdotes reinforced learning, for example, a participant in Rajasthan shared how he successfully avoided a UPI scam, while a trader from Assam learned best practices for using public Wi-Fi securely. Participants reported increased confidence in safeguarding their businesses, expressed eagerness to implement immediate changes, and committed to spreading awareness among peers.
More details about the project are here. |
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Decoding the Global Power Play in AI Regulation
September 18, 2025
 CUTS Institute for Regulation & Competition (CIRC) and CUTS International Global Affairs organised a virtual seminar on ‘Decoding the Global Power Play in AI Regulation’ on September 18, 2025.
The seminar explored how major economies, such as the EU, US, China, India and Russia are leveraging AI governance to shape trade, investment, data governance and geopolitics. Discussions also examined the role of corporations, standard-setting bodies, and industrial policy in defining the global AI order.
More details are here.
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Impact of DoT’s Mobile Number Validation Rules
New Delhi, July 31, 2025
 CUTS International partnered with MediaNama for a discussion on ‘Impact of DoT’s Mobile Number Validation Rules on Internet Businesses’ organised at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi on July 31, 2025. The event focused on key concerns and operational challenges associated with implementing the rules.
More details are here. |
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Competition Issues in the Cloud Services Market
Bangalore, July 30, 2025
 CUTS International and Cyber Security Karnataka (CySecK) in collaboration with Start-up Karnataka, Foundation for Science Innovation and Development (FSID) and Indian Institute of Science (IISc) organised a consultation on ‘Competition Issues in the Cloud Services Market’ in Bangalore on July 30, 2025. The consultation engaged start-ups and business users of cloud services to gather direct insights into key competition-related challenges in India’s cloud market.
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Boosting MSME Cyber Awareness Nationwide
Guwahati, Assam, December 12, 2025
CUTS, in collaboration with the Department of Industry and Commerce, Government of Assam, and supported by the Asia Foundation, is planning a mega event ‘Cyber Security Capacity Building Programme for MSMEs in India’, under the APAC Cybersecurity Fund, scheduled at Shilpagram, Khanapara, Guwahati, Assam on December 12, 2025.
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Sohom Banerjee participated in the ‘CII ER ICT East 2025 – TechNext India: Innovating Tomorrow, Transforming Today’ organised by Confederation of Indian Industry in Kolkata on September 24, 2025.
Sohom Banerjee spoke on ‘AI adoption among SMEs in India and cybersecurity issues” at the international conference titled “The Experiences and Extent of Adopting AI among SMEs in Asia’ organised by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, and Regional Economic Programme Asia in Tokyo, Japan on July 21-25, 2025.
Samridh Shastry participated in the roundtable ’Open by Design: Powering India’s Start-ups in Key Sectors’ organised by the New Indian Consumer Initiative and FISME, with the AI Knowledge Consortium as knowledge partner, in New Delhi, on July 18, 2025.
Amol Kulkarni was a speaker at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) webinar on ‘Combating Social Engineering & Emerging Threats in DFS’, as part of ITU’s digital financial services security webinar series, on July 17, 2025.
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