Lok Sabha clear the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill by a voice vote amid slogan shouting by opposition members over the Manipur issue. Some amendments move by opposition members seeking changes in the bill were defeat by a voice vote.
The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill seeks to protect the privacy of Indian citizens while proposing a penalty of up to Rs. 250 crore on entities for misusing or failing to protect the digital data of individuals.
The Digital bill which comes after six years of the Supreme Court declaring “Right to Privacy” as a fundamental right has provisions to curb the misuse of individuals data by online platforms.
Moving the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill for consideration and passage, Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said :
“It would have good had the opposition discuss the bill in the House. But no opposition leader or member is concern over the right of the citizens.”
Ashwini Vaishnaw said the bill has brought after extensive public consultation.
Referring to the salient features of the bill, the minister said its language is very simple so that even a common person can understand it.
Also referring to certain principles on which the bill is based, Ashwini Vaishnaw said that according to the principle of legality, data of a person has to be taken based on prevailing laws.
Ashwini Vaishnaw also said as per the principle of purpose limitation, data should be use for the purpose it was taken for.
Why should more data be taken than require, the minister told members referring to the principle of data minimisation.
Ashwini Vaishnaw also said that there has to be a storage limitation as far as the data of individuals is concerned.
Union minister said :
“Data should not be kept beyond it needs to be stored,”.
Notice and consent will be provide in all the 22 languages mention in the 8th Schedule so that it becomes easier for the people to comprehend.
Referring to the alternative dispute resolution mechanism put in place, Ashwini Vaishnaw explain that if an organisation commits a mistake, it will go to the data protection board, rectifies mistake and pays penalty “and move ahead“.
Responding to suggestions by members that the Right to Information (RTI) provisions have been diluted in the bill, Ashwini Vaishnaw said RTI and personal data protection have harmonise.
The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill was later pass after a brief debate.
