Our key focus in this sphere is to ensure and enable a policy framework for the digital-first industry. Our public policy submissions are based on principles of equity, rationality and proportionality. All common industry-issues such as data protection, safe harbour, equitable access, safe internet and consumer protection are managed by the public policy committee. Specific sectoral issues are addressed by various sectoral councils and committees. In developing a point of view on a public policy/ advocacy issue, we follow a consensus among members affected by the issue.

Our Horizontal Public Policy Focus:

The Public Policy Committee plays an active role in shaping policies/regulations around data and the digital economy through its various submissions/recommendations to the government. It deals essentially with issues that either cut across all digital sectors or are residual issues not taken up by any other sectoral committees. Some of the major issues handled by this committee include data governance, intermediary liabilities and safe harbour provisions, as well as digital taxation related issues.

Given its expanse, the committee is divided into the following sub-committees to enable us to undertake more focused work:

• E-commerce Subcommittee

The subcommittee focuses on enhancing the ease of doing business and navigating regulatory uncertainties with collaborative and coordinated stakeholder interaction. The committee works on issues such as e-commerce policy, FDI in e-commerce, and consumer protection rules.

• Social Media Intermediaries Subcommittee

The subcommittee works on regulatory and policy issues with government stakeholders. The subcommittee played a key role in coordinating the industry's response to the IT Rules 2021 and has also instituted a voluntary code of ethics for social media intermediaries designed to support the Election Commission of India in ensuring free and fair elections.

• Legal Subcommittee.

There have been several instances where IAMAI, with the support of its members, has gone to higher courts for obtaining collective relief for members from specific legal issues/impositions.