Ex Machina : Essays on a Decade of Tech Policy

Ex Machina: Essays on a Decade of Tech Policy by Rahul Matthan brings together a carefully curated selection of essays examining the intersection of technology, law, policy, and society. Drawn from more than a decade of the author's weekly column, the book offers a contextualised account of some of the most significant developments in technology policy and their implications for India and its citizens.

From digital identity and UPI payments to drones, maps, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies, the essays explore how technology is regulated and how the Indian state uses digital systems for administration while navigating the risks they can create for citizens.

About This Book

Ex Machina brings together Rahul Matthan's writing on technology policy from a period of rapid technological and regulatory change. Part analysis and part record of developments as they unfolded, the collection creates a timeline of India's evolving relationship with technology.

The essays are organised into two broad sections: digital public infrastructure and technology. Each piece is contextualised to help readers understand the policy and legal questions surrounding technologies such as digital identity, UPI payments infrastructure, drones, mapping systems, and artificial intelligence.

The book examines not only how technologies are developed and regulated, but also what their growing use means for citizens. It considers the balance between technological innovation, public administration, individual rights, and the risks that accompany increasingly digital societies.

Written from the perspective of India as a developing country with significant interests in the global technology landscape, Ex Machina provides an accessible account of a defining decade in technology policy.

What You'll Discover

• How India's technology policy evolved over a decade of rapid change.
• The relationship between technology, law, policy, and society.
• The development and regulation of digital public infrastructure.
• The policy implications of digital identity and UPI payments.
• Regulatory questions surrounding drones, maps, and artificial intelligence.
• How the Indian state uses technology for administration.
• The risks and implications of technology for citizens.
• The challenges of balancing innovation, regulation, and individual interests.

Perfect For

• Readers interested in technology policy and digital transformation.
• Lawyers and legal professionals working with technology.
• Policymakers and public-sector professionals.
• Students and researchers interested in technology and society.
• Readers interested in India's digital economy and public infrastructure.

Why You'll Love This Book

Ex Machina offers a clear and cohesive account of a transformative period in technology policy. By bringing together Rahul Matthan's essays on digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence, regulation, and emerging technologies, the book helps readers understand how India's relationship with technology has evolved and what that evolution means for society.