India stands at the cusp of a new era powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), where technology is transforming lives and shaping the nation’s progress. AI is no longer limited to research labs or big corporations. It has shifted dramatically over the past decade, from early adoption in tech hubs to a strategic national priority shaping public policy, industry practices, and societal expectations. But as innovation accelerates, India’s approach is uniquely calibrated to balance rapid technological growth with responsible data governance, privacy protection, and ethical guardrails. With the emergence of the Data Protection Officer (DPO) and emphasis on strong data governance now acting as a cornerstone of responsible AI.
India’s transformation into a digital-first society—powered by Aadhaar, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), e-commerce, and mobile internet—also highlighted the need for robust privacy law. After nearly a decade of debates and multiple drafts, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 (DPDP Act) was implemented as India’s first dedicated privacy law, becoming an integral part of the foundation for responsible AI systems. Instead of adopting separate standalone AI laws, the government is leveraging existing legal instruments such as the DPDP Act to emphasise the need for privacy by design, transparency, and accountability.
The role of the DPO is no longer optional for organisations deploying AI at scale. DPOs help ensure AI regulations are not just powerful but lawfully and ethically applied while handling data. Under the guidance of a DPO, AI developers processing personal data for AI model training should minimise unnecessary data collection in accordance with the DPDP Act, under consent and purpose limitation. Thus, organisations with DPOs may find it helpful to showcase data governance accountability by tracking data provenance, lawful processing, and conducting continuous privacy impact assessments.
Today, India stands at a critical junction, with rapid AI innovation driven by startups and public infrastructure, increasing regulatory clarity on data protection, and growing public awareness of digital rights. In such an ecosystem, the DPO should no longer be viewed as just a compliance cost. They are enablers of scalable AI, protectors of citizen trust and strategic partners to AI leadership.
Furthermore, with the ethical use of AI systems increasingly depending on personal, sensitive, and behavioral data, the role of the DPO is now integral to India’s AI story and future growth. So, as India continues to lead the way for responsible and inclusive growth of the AI ecosystem by introducing the AI Ethics and Accountability Bill and hosting the AI Impact Summit 2026, the DPO’s role will continue to expand from a compliance leader to co-enabler of ethical and sustainable AI—no longer in the background but at the center of India’s AI future.
As an experienced global DPO, HewardMills helps clients embed privacy-by-design, strengthening trust and enabling responsible, scalable AI innovation and deployment. In an era where trust is a competitive advantage, having the right DPO is now key. If you’re looking for expert support in India, we’re here to help. Let’s talk.
