India’s Pax Silica alignment reflects geopolitical AI supply chain restructuring amid U.S.-China tech rivalry
Original framing: “Watch: What is Pax Silica?” — The Hindu
The original framing omits the historical parallels of tech colonialism, where Western powers dictate terms of engagement. It also ignores indigenous AI ethics frameworks, such as those from African and Latin American scholars, which emphasize community consent and data sovereignty. Additionally, the role of labor exploitation in tech supply chains, particularly in India, is absent from the discussion.
Medium structural omission detected in mainstream coverage.
The narrative is produced by Western-aligned media and think tanks, serving U.S. hegemonic interests in tech dominance. It frames Pax Silica as a neutral security measure while obscuring how it marginalizes Global South voices in AI governance. The framing also downplays India’s historical resistance to Western-led tech monopolies, such as its push for digital sovereignty through initiatives like Aadhaar.
Pax Silica mirrors historical tech alliances like the 19th-century telegraph networks, which were controlled by colonial powers. The initiative also echoes Cold War-era tech races, where peripheral nations were co-opted into proxy conflicts. Recognizing these patterns is crucial to avoid repeating the same power imbalances.
Pax Silica is a symptom of deeper systemic issues in global tech governance, where Western powers dictate terms of engagement while marginalizing Global South perspectives.