iWorld
Omidyar Network India, Monitor Deloitte launch report on Indian data privacy landscape
MUMBAI: Omidyar Network India, an investment firm focused on social impact, today launched a new report titled “Unlocking the potential of India’s Data Economy: Practices, Privacy and Governance”, in partnership with Monitor Deloitte. The first of its kind study analyses data practices and governance by private enterprises that are shaping India’s data revolution.
The report also has key recommendations for entrepreneurs, investors and regulators to turn data privacy into a core business and regulatory issue.
“As tech-led investors focused on impact, we believe that technology can drive massive impact in ways that were not possible earlier and have invested in a unique portfolio of enterprises that accelerate the digital journey of India’s “Next Half Billion” to access aspirational services. Equally we now focus on “responsible tech”, recognising the increased vulnerability of individuals and society to harms. This is why we support research and other entrepreneurial efforts to help inform policies, practices and behaviours by policymakers, businesses and users in good data practices, especially in privacy,” said Omidyar Network India MD Roopa Kudva.
The findings of this report encourage entrepreneurs, investors and regulators to take responsible measures that can lead India towards an ideal future of data privacy:
· India is witnessing a personal data revolution: High growth in personal data collection is projected to continue, driven by strong consumer, enterprise and government initiatives.
· Personal data is adding value, but also new risks: Loss of privacy, financial losses, discrimination while unethical use can negatively impact enterprises and investors.
· Personal data proliferation means that behavioural data is used to create detailed personal profiles: Many may find this unsettling.
· Lack of a strong framework in handling data: Private enterprises collect large volumes of data, largely unknown to the consumer as well as share the data with third parties
· Data governance regulations and practices not lagging behind data evolution of big data and business models: Pace of development a framework to ethically collect and process slower than progress of Big Data and AI
· India is at a nascent stage of evolution on privacy issues: As Indian consumers do not yet fully recognize the need for privacy, and the Personal Data Protection bill is awaited, enterprises primarily adopt a “tick the box” compliance lens to data privacy and protection.
· Foundational principles for an ideal future on privacy: Personal ownership of data, fair value in exchange for use of personal data, informed consent, accountability and transparency
· Responsible approaches to big data can lead to innovation driven profitability and growth: The issue need not be one of a tug-of-war between business opportunity and social acceptability. Looking at ethical and societal aspects of data collection and usage can lead to sustainable success in the marketplace
· Collective action towards data privacy and protection: All four stakeholders – enterprises, investors, regulators and civil society — must collectively join hands and work towards pursuing data privacy and protection
· The roadmap for data privacy in India will evolve: From “privacy as compliance”, businesses will focus on privacy to build trust with their customers; eventually new business models will emerge to help individuals assume greater control of their data and narratives.
‘’We recognise that tech is not a silver bullet – the role of non-tech solutions and government, civil society and media in driving social change is vital, and we seek to actively engage and collaborate with them by the way of this report. As next steps, we’ll be working with our own portfolio to develop a deeper understanding and practical implications of these findings and recommendations,” adds Kudva.
The report also has recommended action plans for private enterprises, investors and regulators which will be released as handbooks later this month.
iWorld
Why Peaky Blinders is one of television’s biggest hits that still deserves more attention
Six seasons, multiple awards and the release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man bring the Shelby saga back into the spotlight
In the crowded universe of streaming content, only a handful of shows manage to leave a lasting cultural footprint. Peaky Blinders is overwhelmingly considered one of the biggest global hits of the past decade. Yet many viewers still haven’t fully explored the dark, gripping world of the Shelby family.
Originally produced for the UK’s BBC and later finding a massive global audience through Netflix, the series quietly grew from a British period drama into a worldwide streaming phenomenon.
Created by Steven Knight, the show follows the rise of the Shelby crime family in post-First World War Birmingham. What begins as a gritty street-gang story gradually expands into a sweeping narrative about ambition, politics, power and survival.
At the centre of the saga is Thomas Shelby, portrayed with extraordinary depth by Cillian Murphy. The casting of Murphy is widely regarded as perfect for the role. With piercing eyes, restrained dialogue and an almost hypnotic screen presence, he transforms Shelby into one of the most unforgettable characters in modern screen storytelling.
Murphy’s brilliance lies in his restraint. He rarely shouts or performs theatrically. Instead, a quiet stare, a calculated pause or a subtle shift in expression conveys the emotional storms within the character. Beneath the ruthless gang leader is a war veteran carrying trauma, guilt and loneliness. Murphy captures this complexity with remarkable precision, making Thomas Shelby both terrifying and deeply human.
Beyond its central performance, Peaky Blinders stands out for its unfiltered portrayal of reality. The show does not romanticise crime. Instead, it exposes the harsh social conditions of early 20th-century Britain, from poverty and class struggle to political extremism and the psychological scars left by war.
The series also presents powerful female characters who hold their own within the Shelby empire. Polly Gray, played by Helen McCrory, is the strategic backbone of the family and one of the most formidable figures in the story. Women in the series shape decisions, influence power structures and challenge the rigid social norms of the time.
Across six seasons, the narrative grows dramatically in scale. What begins in the smoky streets of Birmingham evolves into a story involving political conspiracies, fascism and international criminal networks.
The series has also earned significant critical acclaim. It won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama Series in 2018 and multiple National Television Awards for Best Drama, cementing its reputation as one of Britain’s most celebrated modern shows.
Another defining feature of the series is its iconic music. The show’s opening theme, Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, became instantly recognisable and widely associated with the Shelby universe. Combined with a powerful soundtrack featuring artists such as Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead, the music helped shape the show’s dark, stylish identity and became hugely popular among fans.
And the Shelby story is not over yet.
In fact, its legacy is unfolding right now. The long-awaited feature-length continuation, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, was released on March 6, 2026, bringing the Shelby universe from streaming screens to cinemas and giving fans a new chapter in the saga.
For viewers who have not yet stepped into this world, the timing could not be better.
Six gripping seasons are ready to binge on Netflix. A new film has just arrived in theatres. And at the heart of it all stands one of the most magnetic performances in modern drama by Cillian Murphy.
So if Peaky Blinders has been sitting on your watchlist for years, this weekend is your moment.
So, by order of the Peaky fookin’ Blinders, consider this your cue to finally step into the ruthless world of Thomas Shelby. Pour yourself a drink, clear your schedule and press the play button. Because when the Peaky Blinders give an order, you listen.
