What if Donald Trump bans India from using Google, Instagram, and ChatGPT? As Harsh Goenka's post sparks debate, Zoho's Sridhar Vembu responds with a solution

What would happen if India suddenly lost access to Google, Instagram, or ChatGPT? Business tycoon Harsh Goenka posed this very question on X, sparking a wave of reactions that were equal parts funny and thought-provoking. His post imagined a scenario where Donald Trump bans India from using all major U.S.-based tech platforms—a situation that instantly got people talking.

In his post, Goenka asked people to seriously consider the consequences if platforms like X, Google, Instagram, Facebook, and ChatGPT were suddenly out of reach. While some users responded with humour—joking that without Google, people would turn to chaiwalas for medical advice, and that couples would finally have to talk without Instagram—others pointed out the deeper implications of such a ban.

IIT-ian and Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu was among those who took the question seriously. He agreed with Goenka’s concern, adding that India’s dependence runs far deeper than just apps. From operating systems to semiconductor fabs, he noted, the country remains heavily reliant on global supply chains and technologies built abroad. Vembu called for a decade-long “National Mission for Tech Resilience,” arguing that India needs to build its own technological backbone to prepare for such what-if moments.

Internet reacts

While some users said India could absolutely build its own tech ecosystem, the real challenge lies in changing the mindset of entrepreneurs. Instead of copying successful Western ideas, they argued, Indian innovators need to focus on creating original solutions that the world wants to use.

Another pointed out that even if U.S. platforms were banned, success would depend on whether local alternatives are truly better than global ones. Using TikTok’s ban as an example, they said India escaped the app but quickly became a major consumer of Instagram Reels, showing that bans alone don’t guarantee self-reliance—quality and innovation do.