New Data Security Policy Soon: Sridhar Babu

Telangana IT and Industries Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu today announced that the Telangana government would soon unveil a comprehensive new data security policy, designed in line with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act.

The announcement was made during the SHIELD 2025 conference, held at HICC Novotel and organized by the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB), the Cyberabad police and the Society For Cyberabad Security Council (SCSC).

Speaking at the event, the minister emphasized the increasing need for a robust cybersecurity framework to prevent and preempt cybercrimes. He said that the tactics employed by cybercriminals were ever-evolving, especially with the rise of Artificial Intelligence, and revealed plans to establish a state-of-the-art Giga Watt Data Center to incorporate cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies into fighting cybercrime.

The minister added that safeguarding data was of utmost importance in today's competitive digital landscape where nations vied for supremacy in cyberspace, and with cybercriminals increasingly targeting data over financial assets, this new policy would address potential threats to personal privacy and the country's economic stability.

Babu also spoke of the "growing threat" of the dark web where personal data was often sold, and pointed out the staggering $10 trillion in global losses to cybercrime annually, with India alone accounting for Rs 15,000 crore.

He urged citizens to be vigilant and proactive, as many victims of cybercrime hesitated to report incidents, making it difficult to recover stolen assets.

The minister also praised the Telangana police for their "tireless efforts in combating cybercrime", citing a significant recovery of Rs 185 crore from a total of Rs 350 crore looted by cyber offenders.

Babu also expressed concern over India's reliance on imported cybersecurity software worth $7 billion annually despite the country being the second-largest producer of software engineers worldwide, and urged industry leaders to reflect on this contradiction and focus on innovation in cybersecurity solutions. He assured full support from the State government to those pioneering new technologies and methodologies.

Sridhar Babu also mentioned Telangana's ongoing efforts to train the next generation of cybersecurity specialists through the Skill University, which was aimed at equipping the youth with the necessary skills to tackle emerging cyber threats.