The new digital slavery needs constitutional guardrails

The article argues that unchecked Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital technologies pose an existential threat to human dignity, democracy, and national sovereignty, likening the ownership of personal data to "digital slavery." It highlights issues such as algorithmic manipulation, deepfakes, disinformation, and foreign interference, which undermine the shared epistemic foundation necessary for democratic functioning. The author calls for India to adopt a rights-based framework for AI governance, ensure platform accountability, protect free speech, implement widespread digital literacy initiatives, and establish early-warning systems against misinformation, elevating AI governance to a constitutional imperative to safeguard democracy.