Regulating The Digital Leviathan: Legal Challenges And Reform Pathways In India’s AI, Data, And Cybersecurity Landscape
- IJLLR Journal
- Sep 17
- 1 min read
Updated: Sep 21
Avinash Verma, National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi
Divyansh Singh, National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi
ABSTRACT
India's digital revolution has brought incredible opportunities, but it has also created significant legal challenges that our current laws struggle to address. This paper explores how India is trying to regulate emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, protect personal data, and combat cybercrime, while comparing our approach to international standards.
The government's digital initiatives such as Aadhaar and Jan Dhan Yojana have transformed how Indians interact with technology, yet our legal framework remains fragmented and often outdated. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act of 2023 and the Information Technology Act of 2000, while important steps, still leave major gaps in regulation and enforcement. When compared to robust international frameworks like Europe's GDPR and AI Act, India's approach appears less comprehensive and more reactive.
This research examines three critical areas: data privacy protection, AI governance, and cybersecurity law. Through this analysis, it becomes clear that India's regulatory landscape suffers from overlapping authorities, inconsistent enforcement, and a lack of coordination between different government bodies. The paper argues that India needs a more unified, rights- based approach to digital governance that protects individual freedoms while encouraging innovation.
The study concludes that meaningful reform requires creating new institutional frameworks, such as a Digital Law Commission, and fostering better cooperation between regulators, courts, and civil society. Only through such comprehensive changes can India effectively balance technological progress with constitutional rights and national security in our digital age.
Keywords:Digital Governance, Artificial Intelligence, Data Protection, Cybersecurity, Regulatory Reform
