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2020 was a landmark year for the tech ecosystem in India. Internet became a fundamental right, digital adoption soared, Chinese apps got banned, attention economy evolved, big tech monopoly + govt surveillance were questioned. Here, I list the best stories I worked on this year
In July, we broke the news that govt had drawn up a confidential list of 275 additional apps for a likely ban, including PUBG. It had already banned TikTok. Soon after ET's story, more bans followed. - with @SurabhiA_ET @rahultripathi https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/after-ban-on-59-chinese-apps-275-more-on-radar/articleshow/77188360.cms?from=mdr
As the backlash against Google's enforcement of 30% commission intensified, we were the first newspaper to report that the US technology giant had decided to postpone the decision to placate the startup ecosystem - with @SurabhiA_ET https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/google-defers-move-to-levy-30-fee-to-april-2022/articleshow/78484208.cms?from=mdr
In August, we reported that TikTok had approached Reliance Jio for a possible investment as a bid to make a comeback in India. - with @sachindaveET & @arijitbarman76 https://m.economictimes.com/tech/internet/tiktok-may-have-dialled-ril-asking-if-it-wants-to-tango/articleshow/77514798.cms
In January, we broke the news that govt was considering to make it mandatory for law enforcement to produce a court order before asking tech cos to trace messages, signalling its willingness to meet Whatsapp halfway on encryption - with @SurabhiA_ET https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/agencies-may-need-court-order-to-trace-social-media-messages/articleshow/73509641.cms?from=mdr
As Covid19 cases surged in India, govt rolled out Aarogya Setu app for contact tracing. And then all hell broke loose on its privacy shortcomings, mandatory use. we kept a close track of how govt health policy intersected with privacy - with @SurabhiA_ET https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/healthcare/biotech/healthcare/aarogya-setu-order-triggers-an-unhealthy-data-row/articleshow/75525143.cms?from=mdr
After India banned 59 Chinese apps, including TikTok, on security concerns, more Chinese apps climbed the charts to replace them soon after, pushing aside Indian competition. My story: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/software/chinese-tiktok-clones-vying-to-click-with-indians-three-now-in-google-play-stores-top-10-list/articleshow/77028792.cms?from=mdr
As social media usage became more democratic, lockdown forced people inside, I reported that niche content creators talking on personal finance, motivation, pets, astrology, self-help, farming: https://m.economictimes.com/tech/tech-bytes/niche-content-meet-the-next-wave-of-star-influencers-here/articleshow/78902304.cms
In October, I reported on the online anti-vaccine movement that is widespread on global social media platforms was slowly gaining ground in India, as the world awaits the launch of an effective vaccine to stem the virulent spread of Covid-19. My story: https://m.economictimes.com/industry/healthcare/biotech/healthcare/scientists-seek-government-help-to-stop-misinformation-about-covid-vaccines/articleshow/78962696.cms
In November, I wrote on how India was seeing a wave of female comic stars on social media, inspired by the first generation of women who made their mark in standup comedy in the last decade: https://m.economictimes.com/tech/tech-bytes/its-no-laughing-matter-for-these-star-women-creators/articleshow/79360760.cms
In May, @venkatananth & I gave a rundown of one of the biggest fights in the online creator ecosystem and the "class war" that kicked off among Indian YouTube and TikTok creators https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/a-roast-and-then-rage-inside-indias-online-content-creation-class-wars/articleshow/76000796.cms
