In a historic step, the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the long-awaited Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023. Earlier, it had been cleared from the Lok Sabha on August 7.
Though the Bill aims to address the growing concerns surrounding the privacy and security of digital personal data in the country, the Opposition left no stone unturned in impeding it right from the start of the Monsoon session, citing apprehensions that it could potentially infringe upon people’s fundamental right to privacy. Insisting on a thorough examination, the Opposition vehemently demanded that the bill be sent to the standing committee for meticulous scrutiny.
Now, as the Data Protection Bill has been passed from both the Houses, Union Communications, Electronics, and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared his views with India News in which he discussed parameters related to the bill and its likely impact on common man’s life and budget.
Q. How will Data Protection Bill impact common people of India?
A. The primary purpose of the legislation is to strike a delicate balance between respecting individuals’ right to safeguard their personal data and ensuring the lawful processing of such data for essential purposes. It is an important bill, furthering Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Digital India Mission. After the introduction of this
Bill, people will take digital services easily and transparently and that no company will force customers to unnecessarily succumb to their business. People can avail any particular company’s services based on their need.
Q. Will this Bill protect people from conserving their data?
A. After the introduction of this bill, 140 crore citizens who use digital means for accessing so many services will get data protection legislated by the Parliament. With this bill, the digital world will become safer, more trustworthy and it will have a significant impact on common citizens’ lives. Through this bill, people have got an important right. The Bill grants certain rights to individuals including the right to obtain information, seek correction and erasure, and grievance redressal. Further, people will have access to consent through 22 languages that will be shown by the data providing companies. Without consent, nobody can share data and this facility can be available right from people living in Bengaluru, Hyderabad to those living in rural India.
Q. What will happen if any data providing services flout the norms laid down under the new law?
A. The bill proposes a maximum penalty of Rs 250 crore and minimum of Rs 50 crore on entities violating the norms.
