BGMI Relaunch

Introduction

Google is committed to supporting the upcoming elections in India by providing high-quality information to voters, safeguarding platforms from abuse, and helping people navigate AI-generated content. Google will connect voters to helpful information through enhanced features, collaborating with the Election Commission of India (ECI) to provide voting information in both English and Hindi. Emphasis is also placed on showcasing authoritative information on YouTube. YouTube will highlight authoritative news sources and offer context on topics prone to misinformation. YouTube also appends information panels directing viewers to the Election Commission of India's FAQs. This support will help millions of eligible voters navigate the electoral process and ensure a fair and transparent election process.

Key Highlights of Google’s Approach

The step taken by Google will support the democratic process during the upcoming General Election in India. The initiative focuses on three main pillars: disseminating information, tackling misinformation, and navigating AI-generated content.  Google is enhancing its Search and YouTube features to provide essential election-related information, including voter registration, polling guidelines, and candidate profiles. Google is also addressing the challenges posed by AI-generated content by offering clarity on content origins, particularly for election-related ads and YouTube videos. Google has strict policies and restrictions regarding who can run election-related advertising on its platforms, including identity verification, pre-certificates, and in-ad disclosures. Additionally, Google is utilising tools and policies like Ads disclosures, content labels on YouTube, and digital watermarking to help users to identify AI-generated content.

Google has joined hands with ECI

The tech giant Google is partnering with the Election Commission of India (ECI) to provide voting information on Google Search in both English and Hindi. YouTube will feature election information panels, including candidate profiles and registration guidelines, ensuring users have access to authoritative sources. Google's recommendation system will display content from trusted publishers on election-related topics. Protecting the integrity of elections is a top priority, and the company is employing advanced AI models and machine learning techniques to identify and remove content that violates its policies at scale. A dedicated team of local experts across major Indian languages is assigned to provide relevant context and ensure swift action against emerging threats. Google is also tightening up who can advertise on its platforms, requiring advertisers to undergo an identity verification process and obtain a pre-certificate from the ECI or authorised entities for each election ad they wish to run.

Tackling Electoral Misinformation

Google is enhancing its platform security measures to prevent misinformation. It is using AI models and human expertise to identify and address policy violations, while stringent verification processes and disclosures are being implemented to maintain user trust.

Collaborations to promote reliable information

Google is supporting the Shakti, India Election Fact-Checking Collective, a consortium of news publishers and fact checkers to detect online misinformation, including deepfakes. The project will provide news entities and fact checkers with essential training in fact-checking methodologies, deepfake detection, and the latest Google tools to streamline verification processes, as stated in Google’s blog post.

Conclusion

Google has taken proactive steps to ensure a secure electoral process during the upcoming general elections in India. These include preventing the misuse of false information by helping voters navigate AI-generated content and safeguarding its platforms from abuse. Google India has built faster and more adaptable enforcement systems with recent advances in its Large Language Models (LLMs), enabling the company to remain nimble and take action quickly when new threats emerge. Google is dedicated to collaborating with government, industry, and civil society to provide voters with reliable and trustworthy online information. Google is implementing a comprehensive strategy to empower voters, safeguard its platforms, and combat misinformation in India's upcoming general elections. Google’s step is commendable and aims to ensure a secure electoral process, empowering millions of citizens to exercise their democratic rights.

References:

• https://blog.google/intl/en-in/company-news/outreach-initiatives/supporting-the-2024-indian-general-election/
• https://inc42.com/buzz/following-gemini-row-google-strengthens-checks-on-ai-generated-content-before-elections/#:~:text=In%20an%20effort%20to%20ensure,safeguarding%20its%20platforms%20from%20abuse
• https://www.indiatvnews.com/technology/news/google-introduces-enhanced-tools-for-supporting-elections-in-india-2024-03-12-921096
• https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/india/google-ties-up-with-eci-to-prevent-spread-of-false-information/articleshow/108431021.cms?from=mdr
• https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/story/google-joins-hands-with-election-commission-of-india-to-help-voters-via-search-youtube-421112-2024-03-12
• https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/google-2024-general-elections-support-9209588/

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Introduction

The ramifications of cybercrime can be far-reaching. Depending on the size of the attack, even entire countries can be affected if their critical infrastructure is connected to the internet. The vast majority of security breaches start within the perimeter and most internet attacks are socially engineered. Unwittingly trusting any email or web request from an unknown sender creates a potential danger for those organisations that depend on the Internet for their business functions. In this ever-evolving digital downtown yet another group has emerged from its darkest corners of targeting the UK’s very bastion of British and global heritage; a treasure trove of around 14 million volumes, ancient manuscripts, in the precious British Library. A group self-identified as Rhysida. Their bold maneuver, executed with the stealth of seasoned cyber brigands, has cast a shadow as long and dark as those found in the Gothic novels that rest on the library's shelves. The late October cyber-attack has thrust the British Library into an unnerving state of chaos, a situation more commonly aligned with works of dystopian fiction than the everyday reality of a revered institution.

The Modus Operandi

The gang uses all-new Rhysida ransomware to jeopardize Virtual Private Networks, which is typically used by library staff to gain access to their employee’s systems remotely. The Ransomware presents itself as a regular decoy file in a familiar fashion as regular phishing attacks in an email, tricking its victim and downloading itself into the host system.  Once the malware enters the system it stays dormant and lurks around the system for a period of time. The new malware has significantly reduced the dwell time from 4 days to less than 24 hours which enables it to evade periodic system checks to avoid detection.

 Implications of Cyber Attack

Implications of the cyber-attack have been sobering and multifaceted. The library's systems, which serve as the lifeline for countless scholars, students, and the reading public, were left in disarray, unsettlingly reminiscent of a grand mansion invaded by incorporeal thieves. The violation has reverberated through the digital corridors of this once-impenetrable fortress, and the virtual aftershocks are ongoing. Patrons, who traverse a diverse spectrum of society, but share a common reverence for knowledge, received unsettling news: the possibility that their private data has been compromised—a sanctity breached, revealing yet again how even the most hallowed of spaces are not impervious to modern threats.

It is with no small sense of irony that we consider the nature of the stolen goods—names, email addresses, and the like. It is not the physical tomes of inestimable value that have been ransacked, but rather the digital footprints of those who sought the wisdom within the library's walls. This virtual Pandora's Box, now unleashed onto the dark web, has been tagged with a monetary value. Rhysida has set the ominous asking price of a staggering $740,000 worth of cryptocurrency for the compromised data, flaunting their theft with a hubris that chills the spine.

Yet, in this convoluted narrative unfolds a subplot that offers some measure of consolation. Payment information purports the library has not been included in this digital heist, offering a glint of reassurance amidst the prevailing uncertainty. This digital storm has had seismic repercussions: the library's website and interconnected systems have been besieged and access to the vast resources significantly hampered. The distressing notice of a 'major technology outage' transformed the digital facade from a portal for endless learning to a bulletin of sorrow, projecting the sombre message across virtual space.

The Impact

The impact of this violation will resonate far beyond the mere disruption of services; it signals the dawn of an era where venerable institutions of culture and learning must navigate the depths of cybersecurity. As the library grapples with the breach, a new front has opened in the age-old battle for the preservation of knowledge. The continuity of such an institution in a digitised world will be tested, and the outcome will define the future of digital heritage management. As the institution rallies, led by Roly Keating, its Chief Executive, one observes not a defeatist retreat, but a stoic, strategic regrouping. Gratitude is extended to patrons and partners whose patience has become as vital a resource as the knowledge the library preserves. The reassurances given, while acknowledging the laborious task ahead, signal not just an intention to repair but to fortify, to adapt, to evolve amidst adversity.

This wretched turn of events serves as a portentous reminder that threats to our most sacred spaces have transformed. The digital revolution has indeed democratised knowledge but has also exposed it to neoteric threats. The British Library, a repository of the past, must now confront a distinctly modern adversary. It requires us to posit whether our contemporary guardians of history are equipped to combat those who wield malicious code as their weapons of choice.

Best Practices for Cyber Resilience 

It is crucial to keep abreast with recent developments in cyberspace and emerging trends. Libraries in the digital age must ensure the protection of their patron’s data by applying comprehensive security protocols to safeguard the integrity, availability and confidentiality of sensitive information of their patrons. A few measures that can be applied by libraries include. 

• Secured Wi-Fi networks: Libraries offering public Wi-Fi facilities must secure them with strong encryption protocols such as WPA 3. Libraries should establish separate networks for internal operations allowing separation of staff and public networks to protect sensitive information. 
• Staff Training Programs: To avoid human error it is imperative that comprehensive training programs are conducted on a regular basis to generate greater awareness of cyber threats among staff and educate them about best practices of cyber hygiene and data security. 
• Data Backups and Recovery Protocols: Patrons' sensitive data should be updated and backed up regularly. Proper verification of the user’s data integrity is crucial and should be stored securely in a dedicated repository to ensure full recovery of the user’s data in the event of a breach. 
• Strong Authentication: Strong authentication to enhance library defenses is crucial to combat cyber threats. Staff and Patrons should be educated on strong password usage and the implementation of Multi-Factor Authentication to add an extra layer of security. 

Conclusion

Finally, whatever the future holds, what remains unassailable is the cultural edifice that is the British Library. Its trials and tribulations, like those of the volumes it safeguards, become a part of a larger narrative of endurance and defiance. In the canon of history—filled with conflicts and resolutions—the library, like the lighter anecdotes and tragic tales it harbours, will decidedly hold its place. And perhaps, with some assurance, we might glean from the sentiment voiced by Milton—an assurance that the path from turmoil to enlightenment, though fraught with strenuous challenges, is paved with lessons learned and resilience rediscovered. Cyberspace is constantly evolving hence it is in our best interest to keep abreast of all developments in this digital sphere. Maximum threats can be avoided if we are vigilant. 

 References:

• https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-67544504

Data has become a critical asset for the advancement of a nation’s economic, social, and technological development. India’s emergence as a global digital economy hub makes it necessary to create a robust framework that addresses the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation. The Indian government introduced the Draft National Data Governance Framework Policy in 2022, aiming to create a comprehensive data handling and governance framework. This policy draft addresses key challenges in data management, privacy, and digital economy growth.  As per the recent media reports, the Draft National Data Governance Policy so prepared is under the finalisation stage, the government specified in its implementation document for the Budget 2023-24 announcement. The policy also aims to address the country's AI adoption and the issue of lack of datasets by providing widespread access to anonymized data.

Background and Need for the Policy

India has a robust digital economy with its adoption of the Digital India Initiative, Aadhaar digital identification, UPI for seamless payments and many more. In India, 751.5 million people connect to the internet, and is home to 462.0 million social media users in January 2024, equivalent to 32.2% of its total population (Data Reportal 2024). This has brought challenges including data privacy concerns, cybersecurity threats, digital exclusion, and a need for better regulation frameworks. To overcome them, the Draft National Data Governance Policy has been designed to provide institutional frameworks for data rules, standards, guidelines, and protocols for the sharing of non-personal data sets in a manner that ensures privacy, security, and trust so that they remain secure, transparent, and accountable.

Objectives omphasizesf the Framework 

The objective of the Framework Policy is to accelerate Digital Governance in India. The framework will standardize data management and security standards across the Government. It will promote transparency, accountability, and ownership in Non-Personal data and dataset access and build a platform to receive and process data requests. It will also set quality standards and promote the expansion of the datasets program and overall non-personal ecosystem. Further, it aims to build India’s digital government goals and capacity, knowledge, and competency in Government departments and entities. All this would be done while ensuring greater citizen awareness, participation, and engagement. 

Key Provisions of the Draft Policy 

The Draft Framework Policy aims to establish a cohesive digital governance ecosystem in India that balances the need for data utilization with protecting citizens' privacy rights. It sets up an institutional framework of the "India Data Management Office (IDMO) set up under the Digital India Corporation (DIC) which will be responsible for developing rules, standards, and guidelines under this Policy. 

The key provisions of the framework policy include: 

• Promoting interoperability among government digital platforms, ensuring data privacy through data anonymization and security, and enhancing citizen access to government services through digital means. 
• The policy e the creation of unified digital IDs, a standardisation in digital processes, and data-sharing guidelines across ministries to improve efficiency. 
• It also focuses on building digital infrastructure, such as cloud services and data centres in order to support e-governance initiatives. 
• Furthermore, it encourages public-private partnerships and sets guidelines for accountability and transparency in digital governance.

Implications and Concerns of the Framework 

• The policy potentially impacts data sharing in India as it mentions data anonymization. The scale of data that would need to be anonymised in India is at a very large scale and it could become a potential challenge to engage in. 
• Data localization and cross-border transfers have raised concerns among global tech companies and trade partners. They argue that such requirements could increase operational costs and hinder cross-border data flows. Striking a balance between protecting national interests and facilitating business operations remains a critical challenge.
• Another challenge associated with the policy is over-data centralization under the IDMO and the potential risks of government overreach in data access.

Key Takeaways and Recommendations

The GDPR in the European Union and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act passed in 2023 in India and many others are the data privacy laws in force in different countries. The policy needs to be aligned with the DPDP Act, 2023 and be updated as per the recent developments. It further needs to maintain transparency over the sharing of data and a user’s control. The policy needs engagement with industry experts, privacy advocates, and civil society to ensure a balance of innovation with privacy and security.

Conclusion

The Draft National Data Governance Framework Policy of 2022 represents a significant stage in shaping India's digital future. It ensures the evolution of data governance evolves alongside technological advancements. The framework policy seeks to foster a robust digital ecosystem that benefits citizens, businesses, and the government alike by focusing on the essentials of data privacy, transparency, and security. However, achieving this vision requires addressing concerns like data centralisation, cross-border data flows, and maintaining alignment with global privacy standards. Continued engagement with stakeholders and necessary updates to the draft policy will be crucial to its success in balancing innovation with user rights and data integrity. The final version of the policy is expected to be released soon.

References

• https://meity.gov.in/writereaddata/files/National-Data-Governance-Framework-Policy.pdf
• https://datareportal.com/?utm_source=DataReportal&utm_medium=Country_Article_Hyperlink&utm_campaign=Digital_2024&utm_term=India&utm_content=Home_Page_Link
• https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/fandd/issues/2023/03/data-by-people-for-people-tiwari-packer-matthan
• https://inc42.com/buzz/draft-national-data-governance-policy-under-finalisation-centre/  
• https://legal.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/government-unveiled-national-data-governance-policy-in-budget-2023/97680515

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