Govt must play vital role in Internet policy-making: Dy NSA

The government's role in Internet policy-making is vital given the massive rise and spread of the Internet and the rise of cyberattacks across the globe, said Deputy National Security Adviser (NSA) Arvind Gupta at a cyber-security conclave organised by the Synergia Foundation in the city on Tuesday.

Gupta said India was on the cusp of change in the Internet space. “The next major players in the Internet space could very well come from India. Hence, a suitable network and architecture is needed, and the government has to be proactive in this regard.

Considering that security architecture is vital to protect assets, a number of state-of-the-art institutions are being set up across the country to address the issue,” said Gupta.

Security compromised
He also said international security has been compromised in recent times, mainly by non-state actors. “Cyber-security is the top issue when it comes to global security. Cyber-issues are being discussed by nations across the world, and even at the level of the United Nations.

Considering that there are fault-lines in international security, we are looking to eliminate all cyber-threats against national security. Internet governance is also an important facet. When you have 3 billion people across the world with access to the Internet, governance is imperative. However, there has been no consensus on the clear definition of cyber-security,” said the deputy NSA.

Earlier, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) S R Pattanaik, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was creating awareness about Digital India.

“We must ensure we are safe in terms of cyber-security. Internet affects almost everything and information is not secure enough these days. Efforts must be made by the government to tackle cyber-threats,” he said. Later, in a panel discussion, former national security adviser Shivshankar Menon said a new world order has emerged in Asia.

“The geopolitics in the region is huge, with players like India, China, Japan, Australia and others. Cyber-security has become a new domain of contention.

However, the reality is the industry is to an extent controlled by a few big players, MNCs from the US. Cyber has magnified existing trends, though it has not really disrupted the world order. This will take some time to achieve,” he noted.

Former Swedish prime minister and Global Commission on Internet Governance Chairman Carl Bildt said the Internet of things is being discussed these days.

“By 2020, 90 per cent of the world will have mobile Internet. We have to consider that there is a growing population and that the Internet is growing alongside.

How we will administer such a vast, connected population to ensure a peaceful world order is a challenge before us. Internet order can be handled only by a partnership of civil society and government,” he said.