The Emerging Tech and Society Program is located at the intersection of advanced technologies and their wide-ranging social, economic, and political implications. India, being the world’s second-largest internet market, provides a unique range of opportunities for both the private sector and the government. The program is deeply involved in research and solution-building, with a focus on policy and regulation, rights, and threat mitigation in the context of India’s substantial digitization efforts and the integration of the Next Half Billion into the digital ecosystem.

Our work revolves around two primary dimensions: addressing the shortcomings of the existing legal framework and creating policy and technical tools to tackle the multifaceted challenges that come with the rapid growth of the tech sector. By conducting rigorous academic research, we aim to develop actionable policies and tools that effectively address the most pressing contemporary tech-related issues.

Our present areas of focus include online hate speech, disinformation, privacy, cross-border data transfers, sentiment analysis, national security, emerging tech, and digital safety concerns. But our work doesn’t stop at research; our diverse team of technical and social science experts collaborate to create digital solutions that combat online harms and enhance social cohesion through technology.

Our program is constantly evolving, with plans to expand our scope to internet accessibility, facial recognition technologies, and AI accountability through a variety of exciting research projects and technology stacks.