America capture every ‘click’ of yours! WhatsApp-Gagoggle can become the biggest threat to the country

New Delhi: When waking up in the morning, from checking WhatsApp, working on Microsoft’s software in the office and posting photos on Instagram in the evening … Have you ever thought that almost every moment of our digital life is under the control of American companies?

This is not a frightening thing, but a reality, on which a large think tank, Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) has issued a very serious warning. This report has raised the alarm bell for both the government and the general public. The essence of the report is straightforward and clear: if India is to be safe and self -sufficient in the future, it will have to immediately reduce its dependence on American software, cloud and social media.

How deep are we trapped?

Think, how will our everyday life be without these American platforms?

• Software: Most of our computers and laptops run on Microsoft Windows or Apple’s MacoS. Almost all the office work is done at the MS office.
• Cloud Services: From big companies in the country to government offices and startups, everyone’s precious data is placed on American servers like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud or Microsoft Age. Simply put, America has the key to ‘chest’ of our information.
• Social Media: WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter)… all these have become a source of our conversation and expression. They have a profound effect on our thinking and our opinion too.

What are its biggest threats?

GTRI has clearly stated that this is not just a matter of business, but a question of national security.

1. National security threatened: Imagine if America stops these services for India during a geopolitical crisis? Our entire economic and communication structure may come to a standstill in a moment. This will not be less than a ‘digital blockade’.
2. Data theft and espionage: All our data – personal, commercial and even sensitive government information – is a store on foreign soil. It can be misused or spy, and we will not even know.
3. Economic slavery: Every year, billions of dollars are going from India to American companies’ pockets instead of these services. This money is further increasing our dependence, rather than in the development of our country.

Now what is the way forward?

The purpose of this report is not to ban these companies, but to awaken the country. GTRI suggests that India will have to promote its own, indigenous platforms immediately. We need to create and use our own operating system, cloud storage solutions and social media apps.

The dream of ‘self -sufficient India’ cannot be completely true until we become ‘digitally self -sufficient’. This warning is not only for the government, but for all of us. The time has come for us to give Indian options a chance and contribute to protect the country from this ‘digital slavery’.