We must build cyber-safe citizens through trust, privacy, and security

S N TRIPATHI
FORMER SECRETARY, GOI, & DG – IIPA

“I am one of those who believe that data privacy and security are part of the techno-legal framework India is now building. Some organizations assume the government will make a law, or technology like Varonis or FaceOff will secure them, and they can relax. Friends, more data brings more vulnerability, more vulnerability brings more fear, and more fear brings suspicion. No data is truly secure unless proven. Data is used by creators and users, and in between, cyber theft occurs.

Regulation and innovation must go hand in hand. We don’t want European-style overregulation nor the American extreme where innovation is prioritized over security. Local technology companies must be supported to grow and set global standards. Cybersecurity must move from back office to front office, back end to product end. Citizens have a fundamental right to safe cyberspace. Organizations must provide foolproof solutions. If cyber fraud happens in a lax environment, companies must compensate and maintain citizens’ trust. Hit-and-run may work in vehicles, but not in IT. AI is emerging, but intelligence is human. Machines learn only from data and can misinterpret it. Designers and executives must think ahead—make the impossible possible. Buyers must imagine beyond what developers foresee. Only then can we create cyber-safe citizens and secure systems at population scale. Tools like FaceOff help achieve this by enabling trust, accountability, and innovation to coexist in India and globally.”