Rahul Gandhi Criticizes Indo-US Data Deal: A Call for Data Sovereignty

Rahul Gandhi accused the Indo-US data deal of compromising India's data sovereignty, claiming it was a missed opportunity for economic leverage. He emphasized the importance of understanding and utilizing India's data, comparing its value to resources like oil. He called for open discussions on data usage and access.

Rahul Gandhi, a prominent Congress leader, lambasted the Indo-US data agreement, asserting that it effectively surrendered India's crucial data to the United States. During an interaction with IT professionals at Technopark, Gandhi criticized the lack of discourse on the data's value, suggesting it could have alleviated taxes on agriculture and small businesses.

He argued that India's vast data and technical prowess, combined with its rich diversity, should be leveraged in negotiations. Drawing a parallel, Gandhi remarked that if Russia were to hand over its oil reserves, it would spark significant outcry, unlike the muted response to India's data handover.

The leader emphasized the need for India to engage in a national dialogue on managing its data, involving businesses, citizens, and global entities. He highlighted that the political landscape should focus on data as a key resource rather than trivial matters, urging for informed and inclusive discussions.

(With inputs from agencies.)