Discussion of Indian Cyber Security Policy with Arun Mohan Sukumar, head of the Observer Research Foundation’s Cyber Initiative

Round Table

Arun Mohan Sukumar will give brief presentation on key themes animating India’s cyber security policies. He will outline the steps that the Indian government has taken to put a national cyber-architecture in place. Since the threats that India currently faces from state and non-state actors have also undergone a radical change, the presentation will discuss whether India’s cybersecurity apparatus is dynamic enough to counter these threats effectively. Within this broad outline, Mr. Sukumar's input will be followed by an open discussion on key areas like encryption policies in India, the role of MLATs in cybersecurity cooperation and Indian assessments of online threats like the Islamic State.

The discussion will take place under Chatham House rules.

Arun Mohan Sukumar heads ORF's Cyber Security and Internet Governance Initiative, coordinating research projects on internet governance, data protection, and international norms. He is the elected vice-chair of the Asia-Pacific Internet Governance Forum. Mr. Sukumar is a lawyer by training, educated at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad. He holds a Master's degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, where he was the Douglas Dillon Fellow, and the recipient of the Leo Gross Prize for Outstanding Student of International Law. Arun was previously Senior Fellow at the Centre for Communication Governance, National Law University Delhi, working on global internet governance. He has served on the editorial board of The Hindu, and continues to write for the daily on foreign affairs.

The Observer Research Foundation (ORF) is an Indian multidisciplinary public policy think tank engaged in developing and discussing policy alternatives on a range of issues of national and international significance. The fundamental objective of ORF is to aid in the formulation of policies for building a strong and prosperous India in a globalized world.