Digital Personal Data Protection

Digital Personal Data Protection

MEITY has introduced DPDP Bill, 2023 in the Lok Sabha, a long awaited move indeed.

137 out of 194 countries have put legislations in place to secure data and privacy protection, reports ET.

In August 2017, SC reaffirmed ‘privacy’ as a fundamental right in Justice KS Puttaswamy vs Union of India.

But even after six years, the legislation is not in place and predators are using, rather misusing vital personal information on a massive scale for economic gains. The data is being sold vehemently and openly.

I have experienced this during the last 15 days. I opened a DMAT account on a portal owned by a company growing at a fast pace. And guess what, I started getting calls from brokers and traders from all over the country, particularly from MP and Gujarat first asking me how I am doing in my share market trade and then offering advisory services on a profit-sharing basis.

I am tired of getting at least 3-4 calls on a daily basis for the last 15 days.

I hope this new Bill gets approval in the parliament and the data thefts and selling of personal data by unscrupulous companies’ greed will be tamed. They would be penalized for selling and sharing personal data.

Manish Sehgal, Partner, Deloitte India, said: “The much-anticipated privacy bill (referred to as Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023), was tabled in the Parliament. Once enacted, it will enable individuals (referred to as Data Principals) to govern their own personal (digital) data, and will drive enterprises (referred to as Data Fiduciary) to process the personal data of individuals in a lawful manner, for specific purposes only.” Sehgal added: in view of the bill’s extra-territorial coverage, enterprises based outside India serving individuals in India will also be expected to adhere to the provisions of this bill once enacted. Enterprises will have to review the current ways of working especially for the personal data of individuals such as their employees, customers, merchants, vendors, etc. to be able to honour the rights that individuals may exercise, such as the right to access, update, erase their personal data etc. Non-adherence of obligation listed in the bill may attract sanctions and commercial penalty as high as Rs 250 crore. Shahana Chatterji, Partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co says DPDP Bill strikes an important balance in protecting users’ rights and promoting innovation in digital businesses.

?

??

?