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Quarterly Newsletter Issue #09
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Dear Readers,
Greetings!
We are pleased to present the ninth edition of the InnovTech@CUTS newsletter. In this edition, we present our report on the Ethical Framework for 6G, which marks the culmination of a multi-year project exploring the collaboration between India and Australia in the evolving 6G ecosystem.
We have also submitted our recommendations to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on the draft anti-tobacco rules for streaming services. Further, CUTS Institute for Regulation & Competition (CIRC) organised the ninth edition of Winter School on Economics of Competition Law. The 5-`day training programme had sessions on digital market regulation and algorithmic collusion in e-commerce.
We continue to engage in various aspects of the digital economy, from participating in events shaping discussions on internet governance to conducting studies on data privacy, generative AI-related misinformation, highlighting the implication of anti-tobacco advertisements on OTT platforms, the inclusion of cloud services within the purview of the proposed ex-ante digital competition law, and mapping the ecosystem of illegal online gambling operators, among others.
We hope you find our work engaging and look forward to hearing your valuable feedback and perspectives.
Amol Kulkarni
Director (Research)
CUTS International
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An Ethical Framework for 6G
Asheef Iqubbal and Krishaank Jugiani
 This report is part of the project ‘Ethical 6G: Identifying Elements of an Ethical Framework for 6G and Creating Opportunities for India and Australia.’ The report aims to provide a framework for ethical considerations in the development and deployment of 6G technology.
The report dives deep into six pillars of an ethical framework for 6G - cybersecurity, privacy, competition, consumer protection, trust and inclusivity & sustainability. It emphasises security-by-design, privacy-enhancing technologies, and inclusive access while highlighting the need for updated regulations. The emphasis is also on a competitive 6G market, and dealing with some potential competition concerns in the 6G ecosystem. The report also stresses Australia-India collaboration, including leveraging India's 6G Mission, and Australia's quantum computing and cybersecurity expertise for responsible 6G development in the Indo-Pacific region.
Read the full report here and access other publications under the project here. |
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CUTS Comments on Draft Notification Regarding Changes in Rules 11 of the COTPA Amendment Rules, 2023 - OTT Rules”
Bijaya Roy and Sohom Banerjee
October 13, 2024
CUTS submitted its comments on the draft notification regarding changes in rules related to the display of anti-tobacco messages in OTT platforms. While welcoming the government’s intent to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco consumption, CUTS expressed concerns regarding the effectiveness and proportionality of the proposed measures. Among key recommendations, we recommended a more strategic approach, advocating for the use of targeted audio-visual disclaimers based on users' frequently viewed content.
We are also undertaking a study to understand the implications of anti-tobacco messages on online curated platforms for various stakeholders. It aims to assess the perceived disruption, emotional impact, and users' willingness to continue using these platforms if such messages become mandatory. Additionally, the study will explore preferred solutions based on user perspectives.
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Dealing with the menace of Gen-AI fakes
Asheef Iqubbal
The Hindu Business Line, November 19, 2024
AI regulation: India needs a blueprint for ethical innovation
Sohom Banerjee
Policy Circle, November 19, 2024
AI acts as digital shield in India’s vision for a fraud-free digital economy
Sohom Banerjee
Northeast News, November 08, 2024
Ensuring healthy data practices in health care
Asheef Iqubbal
Hindustan Times, November 01, 2024
Binging on bans: India needs a balanced approach to anti-tobacco messaging
Bijaya Roy and Sohom Banerjee
Policy Circle, October 28, 2024
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Pradeep Mehta and Krishaank Jugiani contributed to the book “Privacy, Right, and Data Protection – Trust, Overreach & Erosion” authored by Dr S. Chakravarthy, IAS (Retd.), Honorary Visiting Professor at Administrative Staff College of India.
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Workshop on Cybersecurity Capacity Building for MSMEs in India
Durgapur, West Bengal, December 24, 2024
 In collaboration with the Young Entrepreneurs Chamber of Commerce and Industries (YECCI), West Bengal, CUTS International organised a Capacity-Building Workshop on Cyber Security for MSMEs in Durgapur, West Bengal on December 24, 2024.
The objective of this workshop was to guide the participants on various ways to mitigate cyber risks in e-businesses while highlighting the challenges as well as the opportunities in this space.
This workshop is part of an initiative ‘The APAC Cyber Security Fund’ which is being implemented in partnership with the Asia Foundation and supported by Google.org.
More details are here.
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Workshop on Cybersecurity Capacity Building for MSMEs in India
Hooghly, West Bengal, December 17, 2024
 As a part of ‘The APAC Cyber Security Fund’ initiative, CUTS International, in collaboration with the Hooghly Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI), organised a Capacity-building Workshop on Cyber Security for MSMEs at Uttarpara, Hooghly, West Bengal on December 17, 2024. The workshop aimed to enhance the awareness of MSME owners, workers, or anyone associated with any business of the prevalent and less obvious cybersecurity threats.
More details are here.
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Winter School on Economics of Competition Law
November 06-10, 2024
 CUTS Institute for Regulation & Competition (CIRC) successfully organised the 9th edition of Winter School on Economics of Competition Law fostering a conceptual understanding of economics and its application to competition law in digital markets. It included sessions on Digital Market Regulation in Asia (India, Japan, and Korea), Reviewing the Progress of the EU’s DMA Implementation, and Algorithmic Collusion in E-commerce.
Read the full report here. |
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APAC Cyber Security Fund Project Inception Workshop
Kolkata, West Bengal, November 05, 2024
 CUTS International, in collaboration with The Asia Foundation, has launched an innovative cybersecurity training initiative under the APAC Cyber Security Fund Project and organised an Inception Workshop on Tuesday, 05 November 2024, in Kolkata, India. Supported by Google.org, this programme aims to strengthen the cybersecurity ecosystem in the Asia-Pacific region by equipping micro and small businesses with essential digital safety skills. The initiative's scope encompasses ten Indian states—Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim, Tripura, Rajasthan, Nagaland and West Bengal—with an ambitious target of training 20,600 MSMEs over two years from 2024 to 2026.
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PrivacyNama 2024: Global Conference on Privacy and Global Data Governance
October 03-04, 2024
 CUTS International participated as a community partner in PrivacyNama 2024 organised by MediaNama on October 03-04, 2024. The event focused on crucial questions in the AI landscape, focusing on who controls the data, how it is used, and what rights individuals have in this rapidly evolving
environment.
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Empowering Youth with Technology for Sustainable Eating
December 09, 2024
 CUTS International Lusaka has launched a social media campaign targeting youth aged 10–35 in Chongwe to promote sustainable eating habits. This initiative encourages traditional diets, local food sourcing, reducing food waste, and fostering a sense of community around sustainable practices. The campaign leverages social media to engage tech-savvy audiences through interactive and visually engaging content such as videos.
More details are here.
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CUTS International Holds Cybersecurity Workshop for Small Businesses In Durgapur, WB
KNN, December 26, 2024
CUTS International Empowers Durgapur Businesses with Critical Cybersecurity Skills
APN News, December 26, 2024
Multi-Party Privacy Concerns Among Consumers of Digital Credit in India: Report
MediaNama, November 13, 2024
CUTS International raises concerns over proposed tobacco ad rules; advocates for strategic implementation
NewsDrum, October 17, 2024
Privacy Risks in AI Training with Non-Personal Data
MediaNama, October 16, 2024
CCI findings in Google vs Indian news publishers dispute ‘in matter of weeks’, to bring regulatory clarity
LiveMint, October 10, 2024
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- Sohom Banerjee presented his research paper titled "Analysing Brand Perception: Insights from Text Mining" at the 13th Annual Conference of the Emerging Markets Conference Board (EMCB) at the Indian Institute of Management Lucknow – Noida Campus on December 19-21, 2024. The conference focused on the theme "Future of Marketing in Emerging Markets: Looking Ahead."
- Sohom Banerjee presented his paper titled "Identifying the Factors Affecting the Adoption of AR and VR Technology in Employee Training" at the 2nd International Conference on Sustainability, Entrepreneurship, Equity, and Digital Strategies (SEEDS 2024) on December 17-18, 2024. The conference was organised by Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, and Middlesex University Dubai Campus.
- Sohom Banerjee presented his research titled "When Heart Meets Hardware: Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robots in Elderly Care" at the ICSSR Sponsored One-Day National Seminar on "Enhancing Quality of Life and Addressing Vulnerability Issues Among India's Elderly Population" on December 14, 2024 at St. Xavier's College, Kolkata. This seminar was part of a collaborative research project under the Vision Viksit Bharat@2047 initiative by ICSSR.
- Krishaank Jugiani was one of the panellists at the report launch event on Leveraging Online Ads for India organised by Primus Partners in collaboration with India SME Forum and Broadband India Forum in New Delhi on December 12, 2024.
- Krishaank Jugiani participated in the India Internet Governance Forum (IIGF) held in New Delhi on December 09-10, 2024.
- Samridh Shastry attended the report launch event of "Unleashing India's Gaming Potential" organised by the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi on December 04, 2024.
- Samridh Shastry and Asheef Iqubbal attended the 10th edition of the Cloud & Data Centre India 2024 Annual Conference, organised by Bharat Exhibitions at The Lalit in New Delhi on November 14, 2024.
- Krishaank Jugiani was one of the speakers at the Roundtable on Children’s Data Governance in India, organised by The Quantum Hub in New Delhi on November 06, 2024.
- Samridh Shastry attended the Open Source Convention organised by Open Source India at the NIMHANS Convention in Bangalore on October 24, 2024.
- Samridh Shastry participated in the ‘Build with AI’ Summit organised by Meta India at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Bangalore on October 23, 2024
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