Why new regulatory regime for nuclear energy and not for digital and electromagnetic technologies? Are digital technologies less lethal to humanity? The only difference between two technologies is that nuclear energy can have devastating effect in a fraction of second while digital technologies can act as a slow poison. Whether you consider their uses or misuses or their risks, both kind of technologies stand on equal footing. The only thing is that there are some vested interested in nuclear energy sector which want that their liability towards mishap, if any, to be limited, whereas digital technologies giants are propagating themselves under the nose of the Governments world over without Governments noticing where they are taking the humanity.
If we look at the legislative history world over, wherever there is risk to public there is regulatory regime. Somehow, Governments for the time being are underestimating risks of digital technologies. IT Act, 2000 in India is a piecemeal legislation. It lacks comprehension and precision, which is urgently needed but this is being postponed. Sometime back, India mooted communications convergence law but it has been put in cold storage. Why? – no idea.
If we look at the legislative history world over, wherever there is risk to public there is regulatory regime. Somehow, Governments for the time being are underestimating risks of digital technologies. IT Act, 2000 in India is a piecemeal legislation. It lacks comprehension and precision, which is urgently needed but this is being postponed. Sometime back, India mooted communications convergence law but it has been put in cold storage. Why? – no idea.
There is distinct possibility that nuclear energy giants and digital technologies giants may join hands in future and change the complexion of governance. Data storage and processing requires huge amount of uninterrupted energy. Data technologies giants are looking towards nuclear energy. This is how they might join hands. No problem in doing this but all these things should be for the growth of humanity, not for harming it. M/s Government of India, please start thinking over it seriously before it is too late.
Authors’ introduction: The authors, Vidya Sagar and Amolak, are practicing lawyers of the Supreme Court of India, who concentrate on technology related laws. They are operating law firm, TheLawyerics. They can be reached through e-mail, vs.adv@outlook.com
Risky Technologies – Regulatory Regime
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Regulatory Framework – Nuclear Energy
Regulatory Framework – Nuclear Energy