Why the Personal Data Protection Bill matters (The Hindu, GS-3, gs-2))

12 Apr Why the Personal Data Protection Bill matters (The Hindu, GS-3, gs-2))

Context:-Data breach at MobiKwik could  be India’s biggest breach with the data of 9.9 crore users at risk. It shows loopholes in India’s digital infrastructure.

• Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019
  • safeguarding the privacy of personal data of individuals (data principals) which is processed
    by entities (data fiduciaries).
  • Processing can only be done for a specific purpose, after obtaining consent of the data principal. Such consent is not required in case of a medical emergency or by the State for providing benefits or services.
  • The Bill provides the data principal with certain rights.
  • Right to correct person’s data, confirm whether the data has been processed, or to restrict its continued disclosure.
  • The Bill allows exemptions from many of its provisions when the data is processed in the interest of national security, or for prevention, investigation or prosecution of offences.
  • Sensitive personal data such as financial and health data, can be transferred abroad, but should also be stored within India.
• Positives:-
  • emphasize data security and data privacy both.
  • data protection regime to both government and private entities.
  • entities
    • Have to fulfill a set of data protection obligations and transparency and accountability measures
  • create an independent and powerful regulator known as the Data Protection Authority (DPA).
  • users can find it difficult to enforce various user protection safeguards under the bill, which may have repercussions.
• Way forward:-
  • Joint parliamentary committee has made 86 recommendations, these must be included after due discussion with the stakeholders.

Download Daily Current Affairs of 12th April 2021

Swarn Singh

Plutus IAS Current Affair Team Member