Data Protection Bill: Rajeev Chandrasekhar said – Data Protection Bill will not violate the privacy
During an online discussion, Union Minister Rajiv Chandrasekhar said that the National Data Governance Framework Policy has a provision to deal with data confidentially. It is not a part of the draft Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill-2022.
Highlights
⏩ Access to personal data will be given only in exceptional circumstances.
⏩ The proposed Data Protection Board would be independent.
⏩ The scope of the DPDP Bill is limited to personal data protection only.
New Delhi. Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that under the proposed Data Protection Bill, it will not be able to violate the privacy of citizens and will get access to personal data only in exceptional or exceptional circumstances. Chandrasekhar said that the government can access the personal data of citizens only in circumstances like national security, epidemic, and natural disaster.
During an online discussion, the minister said that the National Data Governance Framework Policy has a provision to deal with data in a confidential manner. It is not a part of the draft Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill-2022.
Data Protection Board will be independent
Chandrasekhar also made it clear that the proposed Data Protection Board would be independent and no government officials would be involved in it. This board will look into matters related to data protection. Answering questions related to privacy on Twitter Live on Saturday evening, the minister said this while clarifying the government’s stand on the draft DPDP Bill-2022.
He said, “We say that the government wants to essentially violate the privacy of citizens through this law. Is it possible? that is the question. The answer is no. The Bill and the law spell out in very clear terms what are the exceptional circumstances under which the government can have access to the personal data of Indian citizens…. National security, pandemic, health care, natural disaster.
Freedom of speech is subject to reasonable restrictions
Chandrasekhar said, “These are exceptions. Just as freedom of expression is not absolute and is subject to reasonable restrictions, so is the right to data protection.
Certain exemptions to entities notified by the government
In the draft DPDP Bill, entities notified by the government have been exempted from various compliances including sharing of details for the purpose of data collection. The provisions from which notified entities will be exempted by the government pertain to informing an individual about the purpose of data collection, collection of children’s data, risk assessment of public order, the appointment of data auditors, etc.
The scope of the DPDP Bill is limited to personal data protection only
The minister further said that the National Data Governance Framework has provisions to deal with anonymized data whereas the scope of the DPDP Bill is limited to personal data protection only. He said that we have a National Data Governance Framework Policy for the entire non-personal and confidential data space. The scope of the DPDP Bill is limited to Digital Personal Data Protection.
