{"id":66195,"date":"2026-01-27T14:11:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T17:11:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tech.einnews.com\/article\/886949347"},"modified":"2026-01-27T14:11:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T17:11:09","slug":"sridhar-vembu-compares-big-tech-to-east-india-company-says-it-is-time-for-tech-sovereignty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/01\/27\/sridhar-vembu-compares-big-tech-to-east-india-company-says-it-is-time-for-tech-sovereignty\/","title":{"rendered":"Sridhar Vembu compares Big Tech to East India company, says it is time for tech sovereignty"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In 2026, when it comes to sovereignty of a country, it is no longer just about fighter jets, borders or military strength. Many nations are realising this, and Zoho founder and chief scientist Sridhar Vembu hopes that India too will understand it. In a post on X aka Twitter, Vembu on Tuesday compared the Big Tech to the East India Company and hoped that India would cut its reliance on foreign tech. <\/p>\n

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Vembu believes that India\u2019s long-term economic well-being and national security could be compromised if the country continues to rely heavily on foreign technology platforms. He compares US-based Big Tech companies like Google, Meta, OpenAI, Amazon and others to the East India Company, arguing that countries like India are currently supplying resources and data to US-based companies, while remaining dependent on their foreign-owned platforms for critical operations. This allows these tech companies to extract value from local markets and consolidate power and profits, which they move outside the country. <\/p>\n

According to Vembu, reducing reliance on foreign technology is no longer a choice but a strategic necessity that governments, in India specifically, must focus on in order to boost economic resilience and build better national security. Drawing parallels with Europe, where countries such as France are beginning to act on technology sovereignty, Vembu suggests that India too must prioritise technological self-reliance.<\/p>\n

Reacting to reports that France plans to phase out platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom in favour of a European alternative, Vembu said the move reflects a growing recognition that digital dependence can weaken a nation\u2019s autonomy. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe very definition of a sovereign nation should now include technology sovereignty,\u201d wrote Vembu. \u201cBig Tech now is the New East India company and Europeans are now waking up to it. History seems to rhyme with irony.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is not the first time the Zoho founder has made arguments in favour of India focusing on tech sovereignty. He has long been vocal about the need for India to build and control its own technology stack, ranging from enterprise software to strategic hardware. Vembu has repeatedly warned that excessive dependence on multinational technology firms not only raises concerns around data security and policy autonomy, but also limits India\u2019s ability to build deep, foundational technology products.<\/p>\n

Although on important bit to note here is that tech sovereignty also helps Zoho, given that the company competes with the likes of Google, WhatsApp and Microsoft. <\/p>\n

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Vembu echoed similar views in a recent interaction with PTI, where he stressed that technology sovereignty has become \u201cabsolutely vital\u201d in an increasingly technology-led world. Speaking from Tamil Nadu, he said nations cannot claim true independence unless they gain control over critical digital infrastructure.<\/p>\n

In addition to software infrastructure, Vembu has also highlighted the importance of building domestic capabilities in areas such as semiconductor design. Addressing the Huddle Global startup event last year he highlighted global chip shortages and US export curbs on Nvidia chips. He argued that access to critical technologies could be restricted regardless of a country\u2019s willingness to pay, underlining the need for self-reliance. <\/p>\n

\u201cAll that what we end up doing is being a big team or a training ground for Silicon Valley. We sell our raw material cheap \u2014 in our case, brains \u2014 and buy the finished products at a high price, which are the technology products. This is colonial economics to the core,\u201d Vembu had said. \u201cAll of India can get only 50,000 chips (from Nvidia), no matter whether we are ready to pay or not. This is basically a form of digital colonialism, and that\u2019s why we should reject this.\u201d<\/p>\n

– Ends<\/p>\n

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Published By: <\/p>\n

Divya Bhati<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Published On: <\/p>\n

Jan 27, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n