Ola Founder and CEO Bhavish Aggarwal recently made an emotional appeal, pointing out that Big Tech platforms like LinkedIn can and will even compel or silence the Indian voices, particularly after his own experience at the hands of the Microsoft-owned platform. Aggarwal took umbrage with LinkedIn removing his posts on "gender pronouns," adding that the platform was imposing its views on Indian users.
"Clearly, LinkedIn assumes Indians need gender pronouns in our conversation and that the dissenting voices are best shut," Aggarwal said in a blog post.
He said the platform forces users to either conform or be silent, adding that if LinkedIn could do this to him, then normal users would face even more challenges.
Aggarwal said he will work with the Indian developer community to build a digital public infrastructure for social media. He added that concepts such as UPI, ONDC, and Aadhaar must find a place in social media, and Indian law should dictate the community guidelines rather than corporate companies.
Asserting Ola's commitment to gender inclusivity, Aggarwal said the company had made major investments in a 'women only' automotive plant. He said India, with its cultural practices, was inherently inclusive and did not need to be lectured by Western companies on the subject.
Aggarwal said the country must invest in indigenous Indian tech platforms as he was concerned that Western Big Tech monopolies were eroding Indian culture.
"While I don't harbor any personal ill-will towards global tech giants, as an Indian citizen, I am worried that I may be subject to the whims and fancies of Western monopolies, which will erode my cultural identity," Aggarwal said.
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