A note from the Chairman of Deutsche
There’s a quiet crisis brewing in the Indian business world. It's not something you’ll see on the news every day. It doesn’t cause immediate panic. But slowly, silently, it’s changing the game for every business.
I’m talking about data. Not just how we use it, but who owns it, who controls it, and who profits from it.
If you’re running a business in India today, you’re probably focused on growth, customer acquisition, margins, and compliance. That’s understandable. But in all that, something critical is being overlooked. It's nothing but the fact that your business has unknowingly become a data business. And if you’re not thinking about data privacy and ownership, you may have already fallen into the trap.
Who owns our Data
Let’s step back for a second. India is home to one of the largest, most active internet populations in the world. Every app download, payment, Google search, food delivery, or ride-share is a data point. And you know what, this reveals consumer preferences, habits, income patterns, even family routines.
But here's where things change, the companies that collect and monetize most of this data are not Indian. They are global tech giants largely headquartered in the West and they know more about our customers than many Indian businesses do.
This creates an imbalance. We’re giving away consumer insights for free and then paying to advertise to those same consumers via foreign platforms. They decide what ads we see, what prices we pay, even what news we read. That kind of influence used to belong to governments. Now it belongs to whoever holds the data.
When the data power is foreign-owned, we lose control over how our market is shaped and who benefits from it.
When We Lose Data, We Lose Power
You might have run a Facebook ad or checked your website traffic using a free analytics tool. But have you thought of the consequences it holds? The value of your insights isn’t staying with you. You’re helping a third-party platform learn about your market, your users, your timing and your success. And then you pay them to reach the very audience you helped them understand. That’s not just a missed opportunity, it's a power shift. You built the relationship with the customer. But someone else is monetizing the insight.
Most Indian Businesses Are Far More Exposed Than They Realize
When I talk to founders and business owners, most of them assume data risks are a ‘big company problem’. Something only banks or tech firms need to worry about. But the reality is far simpler and scarier. If your company uses a free email provider, if you’re saving client data in spreadsheets, if your team uses unsecured Wi-Fi, or if you’ve never done a proper audit of your software tools, your business data is already at risk. Customer information, sales patterns, vendor contracts, employee details, it’s all vulnerable. And in today’s world, a breach or leak doesn’t just mean technical damage, it means a loss of trust.
Compliance Alone Isn't Enough
India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) is a much-needed step in the right direction. But like any legal framework, it sets the minimum bar. True data protection goes far beyond checklists or policy documents. It’s about building a culture of consciousness knowing exactly what data you collect, why you collect it, where you store it, who you share it with, and how it can be misused. That level of awareness can’t be outsourced.
Indian Businesses Need Indian Allies
When it comes to something as sensitive as data, the solution can’t be copy-pasted from another market. Our regulations, our business practices, and even our cultural attitudes toward privacy are unique. And so are the risks. That’s why Indian companies need Indian partners/consultants who understand not just GDPR or U.S. compliance laws, but how Indian customers think, how Indian teams work, and how Indian regulators act. At Deutsche, we help businesses not just stay compliant but stay in control. From internal audits and cloud policy frameworks to vendor agreements and employee training, we help companies take charge of their data the right way.
Protecting Data Is No Longer Optional
Whether you're pitching to investors, signing partnerships, or building a brand that people trust, your data practices will come under scrutiny. The companies that treat data privacy as a core value will be the ones that stand out.
We’re already seeing this. Global investors ask tough questions about data compliance. Consumers abandon platforms that misuse their information. Even job seekers want to work for companies they trust.
The smartest businesses of the next decade will be the ones who treat data as an asset.
At Deutsche, we believe Indian businesses deserve to own and protect the insights they create. Because in today’s digital economy, your data isn’t just part of your business, it is your business.
And protecting it? That’s not just smart. It’s essential.