Human Oversight Paramount: Om Birla Urges BRICS Parliaments to Champion Ethical Tech
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla calls for human oversight in technology and showcases India's digital parliamentary innovations at the 12th BRICS Forum.
In a powerful call for balance between innovation and ethics, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has urged the parliaments of BRICS nations to lead the charge in promoting technology that is transparent, responsible, and ethical. Speaking at the plenary sessions of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, Birla emphasized that the paramount requirement for any technological advancement must be human oversight.
Highlighting the immense scale of the bloc, the Speaker noted that BRICS nations represent roughly half of the global population. This demographic weight, he argued, brings a collective responsibility to ensure that technology is used to foster cooperation and safeguard parliamentary sovereignty rather than undermine it.
India's Digital Blueprint for Governance
During the inauguration of the forum, Om Birla detailed the extensive digital transformation undertaken by the Parliament of India. He showcased how technology is being leveraged to enhance legislative capacity, increase transparency, and make the democratic process more accessible to the public.
Key digital innovations highlighted include:
- Secure Digital Platforms: Systems that allow Members of Parliament (MPs) to access questions and answers online and receive prompt responses from government departments.
- Breaking Language Barriers: The daily List of Business is currently available in 10 languages, with plans to expand to all 22 scheduled languages. Additionally, simultaneous interpretation is provided in 22 languages.
- Digital Archives: The digitisation of parliamentary debates from both pre- and post-independence eras, now featuring video-search facilities and metadata.
- Knowledge Access: 24/7 online access to research papers and the home delivery of books from the Parliament Library.
Paperless Governance and DPI
The Speaker also drew attention to the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) and the 'One Nation, One Legislative Platform'. These initiatives have transitioned governance toward a paperless model, connecting legislatures and enabling the live streaming of budgets, debates, and law-making proceedings.
Beyond the walls of Parliament, Birla praised India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). He explained how this framework has empowered citizens and promoted financial inclusion by facilitating the direct transfer of benefits into bank accounts, thereby drastically reducing corruption.
"Advanced technology must remain responsible, accountable, and human-centric, aligned with ethical values, human sensitivities, and dignity," Birla stressed.
Diplomatic Engagements on the Sidelines
The forum served as a critical hub for bilateral diplomacy, with Speaker Birla holding high-level meetings with several international counterparts.
Strengthening Ties with the UAE
Birla hosted UAE Federal National Council Speaker Saqr Ghobash. The two leaders discussed deepening parliamentary cooperation through the exchange of delegations and sharing best practices in AI and digital governance. Their discussions aligned the visions of 'Viksit Bharat' and 'We the UAE 2031', focusing on trade, education, youth exchanges, and regional stability through diplomacy.
Dialogue with China
In a meeting with Zheng Jianbang, Vice Chairman of China's National People's Congress, the focus shifted to bilateral relations. While discussing cooperation in healthcare, education, and technology, Birla underscored the shared responsibility of India and China to maintain peace and tranquillity along their border, urging the resolution of differences through mutual respect and dialogue.
Collaboration with Iran
Birla also met Ahmed Naderi of Iran's Islamic Consultative Assembly. The conversation centered on the importance of stability in West Asia and the advancement of cooperation regarding the Chabahar Port. Naderi expressed gratitude for India's support, including the provision of medicines and other assistance to Iran.