Indian citizens might soon have the option to sign documents digitally through crypto tokens. The feature is envisaged as part of a project to develop a national web browser spearheaded by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
On Aug. 9, the ministry announced the launch of the Indian Web Browser Development Challenge, which hopes to “inspire and empower” developers from all corners of the country to create an indigenous web browser with an inbuilt Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA) India root certificate. According to the release:
“[The] Proposed browser would also focus on accessibility and user friendliness, ensuring built-in support for individuals with diverse abilities.”
The announcement includes the ability to digitally sign documents using a crypto token, which would be embedded into the browser.
The competition will last three rounds: in the first round, participants will be limited to 18; after the second round, participants will be limited to eight, with the final winner granted around 34 million Indian rupees ($411,000).
Indian government has been active in its regulatory efforts in the recent months, especially in regard to tech and crypto. Presiding at the intergovernmental forum of 20 largest world economies (G-20), it has supported the Financial Stability Board’s (FSB) recommendations for a global crypto framework and called for special attention to developing economies’ specifics in its potential guidelines for crypto.
In August, The lower house of India’s parliament voted in approval of a bill that would ease data compliance regulations for Big Tech companies. The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023 would simplify storage, processing and transfer standards for r global tech giants like Google, Meta and Microsoft, as well as for local firms.
Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield has resigned from the Labour Party.
The 53-year-old MP is the first to jump ship since the general election and in her resignation letter criticised the prime minister for accepting thousands of pounds worth of gifts.
She told Sir Keir Starmer the reason for leaving now is “the programme of policies you seem determined to stick to”, despite their unpopularity with the electorate and MPs.
In her letter she accused the prime minister and his top team of “sleaze, nepotism and apparent avarice” which are “off the scale”.
“I’m so ashamed of what you and your inner circle have done to tarnish and humiliate our once proud party,” she said.
Since December 2019, the prime minister received £107,145 in gifts, benefits, and hospitality – a specific category in parliament’s register of MPs’ interests.
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Ms Duffield, who has previously clashed with the prime minister on gender issues, attacked the government for pursuing “cruel and unnecessary” policies as she resigned the Labour whip.
She criticised the decision to keep the two-child benefit cap and means-test the winter fuel payment, and accused the prime minister of “hypocrisy” over his acceptance of free gifts from donors.
“Since the change of government in July, the revelations of hypocrisy have been staggering and increasingly outrageous,” she said.
“I cannot put into words how angry I and my colleagues are at your total lack of understanding about how you have made us all appear.”
Ms Duffield also mentioned the recent “treatment of Diane Abbott”, who said she thought she had been barred from standing by Labour ahead of the general election, before Sir Keir said she would be allowed to defend her Hackney North and Stoke Newington seat for the party.
Her relationship with the Labour leadership has long been strained and her decision to quit the party comes after seven other Labour MPs were suspended for rebelling by voting for a motion calling for the two-child benefit cap to be abolished.
“Someone with far-above-average wealth choosing to keep the Conservatives’ two-child limit to benefit payments which entrenches children in poverty, while inexplicably accepting expensive personal gifts of designer suits and glasses costing more than most of those people can grasp – this is entirely undeserving of holding the title of Labour prime minister,” she said.
Ms Duffield said she will continue to represent her constituents as an independent MP, “guided by my core Labour values”.