Areas of Expertise
Kanishk advises various ministries of the Central Government such as the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), NITI Aayog (Formerly Planning Commission) and the National Security Council Secretariat (Prime Minister’s Office) on Digital Expansion, Cyber Laws, Strategy, Policy, Governance, Data Protection and Security Emerging Technology (5G, IoT/OT).
With over 15 years of experience, Kanishk is a leading voice from the cybersecurity domain. During his association with the field of cybersecurity, he has advised/helped organisations to protect themselves against advanced threats, online harms and misinformation. His expertise, in the field of cybersecurity, has helped organizations across sectors safeguard their digital assets.
Kanishk is an expert in matters of cyber defence and security, providing guidance on cybersecurity and advanced threat intelligence to governments and companies. He has advised global defence and security companies and works closely with governments on cybersecurity strategy. His expertise helps clients protect their critical assets and critical infrastructure from emerging cyber threats.
Years of working with and advising governments, tech related issues and on emerging technologies has endowed Kanishk with extensive experience in public policy. Kanishk always makes it a point to put forward his views, especially when comments, on the same, are invited. He has also helped organisations put forward their views, on policy matters.
Kanishk is an expert in matters concerning international trade and cyber diplomatic relations and has advised companies, across industries, in the said field. He provides guidance on development and compliance to security policies such as European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), responds to cyber incidents and is involved in training of stakeholders for best practices in cyber security.
Using his rich experience of working in the field of technology, Kanishk helps his clients understand the nuances of the ever-changing digital technology space. He advises companies and governments on how to implement security standards and ensure compliance of the same. At a macro level these efforts help in building a safer Internet for all.
Engagements
With Governments
With the Industry
With Global Development Agencies
With Not-for-Profits
Media
Should Meta Be Treated As A “Publisher” Over Paid Content Boosting?
Dr Kanishk Gaur, Founder of India Future Foundation, said Meta’s admission of taking money to boost content raises questions over its status as an intermediary, arguing that platforms acting like “global governments” need stricter compliance checks and penalties, similar to regulations enforced in the European Union.
How Social Media Controls Us: Fake Bots, Algorithms, and the Need for New Rules
Dr Kanishk Gaur, CEO of Athenian Tech, explained that social media trends and protests were often driven by fake AI bots and algorithms designed to keep users hooked for advertisers, rather than showing the truth. He warned that these hidden tricks could harm society, calling for strict new laws to control AI and urging schools to teach digital safety so students could spot fake and harmful content.
CSAM Isn’t A Single-Platform Problem, Says Digital Policy Expert
Dr Kanishk Gaur, Founder of India Future Foundation, said efforts to curb CSAM cannot target a single platform in isolation, calling for a broader regulatory framework that holds multiple platforms accountable under Indian law.
Meta’s Child Safety Failures Point To A Wider Industry Problem, Says Expert
Dr Kanishk Gaur, CEO of Athenian Tech, said cybercriminals exploit paid ad placements to bypass platform safeguards, calling for upgraded AI moderation and greater industry cooperation, while stressing that child safety failures reflect a broader tech ecosystem issue requiring comprehensive cross-platform laws.
WhatsApp’s Username Feature: A Step Toward Meta’s Unified Monetization Strategy
Dr Kanishk Gaur, Founder of India Future Foundation, said WhatsApp’s new username feature reflects Meta’s push to unify its platforms and pressure to monetize the app, warning that strict DPDP enforcement is needed to stop businesses from exploiting private user data.
WhatsApp’s Username Feature Is a “Stop-Gap,” Not a Cybercrime Fix
Dr Kanishk Gaur, CEO of Athenian Tech, said WhatsApp’s new username feature risks enabling impersonation and is no “mother pill” for cybercrime, calling instead for rigorous identity verification through government ID and facial biometric matching.
Published Work
Athenian Tech Expands AI Cybersecurity In Indonesia
Athenian Tech has partnered with Indonesia-based PT Duta Firza Mulia to strengthen AI-driven cybersecurity capabilities across the region. Dr Kanishk Gaur, CEO of Athenian Tech, says, “Indonesia is one of the fastest-growing digital economies in the world, and with that growth comes new cyber, AI risk, and misinformation-driven threats. Our partnership with PT Duta Firza Mulia marks a major step in expanding our capabilities in Southeast Asia. Together, we aim to strengthen how governments and critical industries detect, respond to, and stay ahead of emerging cyber and AI-enabled risks”.
Inside The Dark Web: How Telegram Became Paper Leak Hub In India
Athenian Tech’s Threat Intelligence Report reveals how fraud networks on Telegram and the dark web exploited exam anxiety, selling fake or leaked papers for major exams including NEET, UPSC, and SSC CGL for amounts ranging from $60 to $500 in Bitcoin.
Is WhatsApp’s New Username Feature About Privacy or Monetisation?
Dr Kanishk Gaur, CEO of Athenian Tech, said true protection against impersonation requires robust biometric validation, noting that alphanumeric handle reservations without rigorous cryptographic authentication remain a stop-gap measure that fails to secure public trust against identity fraud.
Tata Electronics Cyberattack Exposes Supply Chain Risks Across Electronics Sector
Dr Kanishk Gaur, CEO of Athenian Tech, said the Tata Electronics data breach reflects how modern cyberattacks have evolved into AI-enabled extortion campaigns increasingly targeting third-party suppliers across the electronics and semiconductor supply chain.
Debate Continues on Rules Governing AI Use in Courts
Dr Kanishk Gaur, CEO of Athenian Tech, highlighted the positive move of the Supreme Court drawing a clear line between AI as a tool and AI as a decision-maker, noting that India has taken a step on judicial AI governance that many countries are still debating.
IIIT Hyderabad and Athenian Tech Join Hands to Launch AI-Powered Cybersecurity Initiative
In a recent development, Athenian Tech signed an MoU with IIIT Hyderabad. Under the partnership, specialized cybersecurity courses will be launched, forging government-industry networks to counter an escalating cyber threat landscape.
Let’s Connect
- kanishk@indiafuturefoundation.com