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Amitabh Kant raises concern over Indian data being shared
Former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant has issued a strong warning about how global AI companies are gaining free access to Indian data through local telecom operators and universities.
He said these firms are strengthening their AI tools using Indian users’ information and will later sell those tools back to India at high prices.
Why Amitabh Kant Says Free Data Flow to AI Companies Is a Serious Risk
Speaking at a public event, Amitabh Kant explained that Indian telecom operators are teaming up with major AI platforms without considering how much value is being lost.
Kant said, “What is happening in India, for instance, is amazing that you are one leading telephone operator, partnering with Perplexity, allowing free data to flow to Perplexity. Another large operator collaborating with Gemini Pro and allowing Indian data all to flow to Gemini PRO and OpenAI collaborating with many Indian universities to get free data.”
He added that big AI companies are also working with many Indian universities to gather more and more data at no cost. According to him, this free data helps foreign models improve quickly.
Kant said these systems are getting “All these models are getting better and better with your data. Indian data, and many other developing countries’ data.”
He warned that once these AI platforms grow stronger, India will have to pay high rates to use tools that were built using Indian data in the first place.
He explained,“All these models are getting better and then they will be selling their AI products back to you using your data, selling it back to you at very high prices.”
Amitabh Kant Calls It “Neo-Colonization” & Says India Must Protect Its Data
Amitabh Kant said this situation is similar to old systems where local resources were taken for free while finished goods were later sold back at high cost.
He stated, “So what is happening is you are using data at zero cost and exporting at billions and billions for the billions of the world. And we must understand that this is Neo colonization in very stealth mode.”
Experts say his remarks could push the country to look closely at data control, fair use, and how India can protect its digital interests in the years ahead.