Narendra Modi Urges Global Standards for AI and Digital Access

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the board of the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) in New Delhi on October 6, 2026, ahead of the India Mobile Congress. During the meeting, Modi advocated for the democratization of technology, arguing that digital services must remain affordable and accessible to prevent a widening digital divide, particularly for nations in the Global South.

Modi presented India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) model as a transformative force and a potential springboard for developing economies to strengthen their digital access and overall economies. He also addressed the risks of emerging technologies, calling for the establishment of global standards to govern AI-generated content and deepfakes. Specifically, he proposed mechanisms to identify the origin of such content to maintain trust in the digital future and suggested technology-driven solutions to reduce cyber fraud.

In response, the GSMA board praised India's rapid expansion of 4G and 5G networks and the growth of its mobile manufacturing ecosystem. Board members highlighted India's investment-friendly policy framework and identified opportunities for international cooperation in satellite connectivity, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.