Shaadi.com founder Anupam Mittal said the proposed ex-ante Digital Competition Bill is overdue and urged faster regulatory action to strengthen India's digital sovereignty. He warned that India risks becoming a "colony of digital warlords" as future conflicts over control will occur in computing infrastructure and digital ecosystems rather than physical borders, according to livemint.com.
Mittal emphasized that sovereignty today is lost not at geographic frontiers but in the realm of computing power, highlighting the country's growing dependence on global technology giants. He argued that India must urgently address this vulnerability by implementing the Digital Competition Bill, which aims to regulate dominant digital platforms before anti-competitive harm occurs. Mittal’s comments came amid ongoing debates on digital regulation in India.
The Digital Competition Bill seeks to establish ex-ante rules to prevent monopolistic practices by large digital firms, contrasting with traditional ex-post competition laws that act after harm is done. This approach aligns with global trends where countries are increasingly focusing on digital sovereignty and control over data and infrastructure. Mittal’s stance reflects concerns shared by policymakers about maintaining India’s autonomy in the digital economy.
The government is expected to advance discussions on the Digital Competition Bill following recent consultations, with stakeholders including industry leaders and regulators participating. The next formal review session is scheduled for later this month, when draft provisions will be examined in detail, livemint.com reported.