When a dominant platform controls essential digital infrastructure, then the notion of consent warrants deeper scrutiny. The CCI’s directives to WhatsApp and Meta not to make WhatsApp access conditional on data sharing attempts to protect competition
This public infrastructure ethos is reflected in the RBI’s recent reaffirmation that UPI will remain a zero-cost rail for users, underscoring the state’s commitment to keeping digital infrastructure open and accessible.
While data collection in UPI is not as Orwellian as the behavioural data collection and monetization by social-media firms, there are parallels. And perhaps, lessons to be learned.
