Personal Data Protection Bill to be withdrawn; sharper one in offing [details inside]

The authorities on Wednesday mentioned it’s going to withdraw the contentious Personal Data Protection (PDP) Bill 2019 which has seen 81 amendments prior to now three years and can introduce a brand new, sharper invoice that matches match into the great authorized framework and defend the information of billions of residents.

IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed members of the Joint Committee of the Parliament (JCP) that the choice has been taken to guard the digital privateness of people and guarantee their information is dealt with by the web firms with utmost accountability.

“The Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 was deliberated in great detail by the Joint Committee of Parliament. 81 amendments were proposed and 12 recommendations were made towards a comprehensive legal framework on the digital ecosystem,” Vaishnaw mentioned in an announcement.

“Considering the report of the JCP, a comprehensive legal framework is being worked upon. Hence, in the circumstances, it is proposed to withdraw ‘The Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019’ and present a new bill that fits into the comprehensive legal framework,” he added.

Bill closely scrutinised 

The earlier invoice drew intense scrutiny from privateness advocates, trade stakeholders and tech firms.

The IT Minister mentioned that the choice to formulate a brand new Bill is to create a framework for organisational and technical measures in processing of information, to put down norms for social media platforms, cross-border switch, accountability of entities processing information, cures for unauthorised and dangerous processing, to make sure the curiosity and safety of the State and to ascertain a Data Protection Authority of India.

New Delhi-based privateness advocacy group Internet Freedom Foundation had mentioned the invoice “provides large exemptions to government departments, prioritises the interests of big corporations, and does not adequately respect your fundamental right to privacy”.

The Bill was first introduced in 2019 and was then referred to the Joint Committee.

The JCP report had recognized many points that have been related however past the scope of a contemporary digital privateness regulation.

Minister of State for IT and Electronics, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, mentioned that the PDP invoice “will soon be replaced by a comprehensive framework of global standard laws, including digital privacy laws for contemporary and future challenges”.

Privacy is a elementary proper of Indian residents and a “$1 trillion dollar digital economy requires global standard cyber laws,” Chandrasekhar mentioned in a tweet.

According to consultants, a robust information safety regulation is what can tame the social media platforms and web platforms within the nation, the best way the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) within the EU has achieved.

New Delhi-based cyberlaw skilled Virag Gupta informed IANS that a number of instances of information breach and tax evasion by Chinese firms have been detected by the Indian businesses.

“To protect national interest, a strong data protection law is need of the hour. After withdrawal of this PDP bill, the government must come with new bill within stipulated time frame which may balance the privacy rights with interest of Indian industry,” Gupta emphasised.

The authorities, again and again, has informed Internet intermediaries and social media platforms to adjust to the regulation of the land.

(With inputs from IANS)