Need desi social media platforms to secure digital sovereignty: PM

NEW DELHI Emphasising on the need to have digital sovereignty , PM Modi on Friday called on the youth to develop India's own social media platforms , like Facebook, Instagram and X, to ensure that the country's technological ecosystems remain secure and independent, reinforcing digital autonomy.

"From operating systems to cybersecurity, from deep tech to artificial intelligence, everything should be our own," Modi said while addressing the nation on its 79th I-Day.

Citing the success of India's UPI platform, he said, "Our UPI platform is surprising the world today. We have the capability. India alone is doing 50% of real-time transactions through UPI. This means power." "I challenge the youth of my country, come, why don't we have our own platforms? Why should we depend on others? Why should India's wealth go out?" the PM said.

His remarks come at a time when there has been a long-standing demand for creating the country's own operating system and social media platforms as it is paramount for any sovereign country to keep its data and communication system secure, the way other countries do it. TNN