Government Says New Data Protection Law Will Safeguard Privacy With Limited Exceptions
The proposed Data Protection Bill aims to strengthen personal data privacy while allowing limited government access only during national security emergencies, pandemics and natural disasters under legal provisions.
Government Defends New Data Protection Framework
New Delhi:-The Central Government has said that the proposed Data Protection Bill will protect the privacy of citizens while ensuring that personal information is accessed only under exceptional and legally defined circumstances. Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the legislation has been designed to balance individual privacy with national interests.
He clarified that the government cannot arbitrarily violate the privacy of citizens and that access to personal data would be permitted only in situations involving national security, pandemics or natural disasters.
Privacy Rights With Defined Limits
Speaking about the draft legislation, Chandrasekhar said privacy rights, like other constitutional rights, are subject to reasonable legal restrictions in exceptional situations. According to him, the proposed framework does not allow unrestricted access to personal information and includes safeguards for citizens.
He said the government’s objective is to ensure that personal data remains protected while enabling lawful intervention during extraordinary circumstances where public interest is involved.
Draft Bill Open for Public Feedback
Earlier this month, Union Telecom and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw released the draft of the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2022 for public consultation. Citizens and stakeholders have been invited to submit their suggestions until December 17 before the legislation is finalised.
The government hopes that public feedback will help refine the proposed law and create a stronger framework for digital privacy in India.
Key Features of the Proposed Law
The proposed legislation, along with the Telecommunications Bill 2022 and the amended Information Technology Act, is expected to form the legal foundation for protecting personal data in the country.
The draft also provides for the establishment of a Data Protection Board of India to oversee compliance, protect the rights of individuals and ensure that organizations process personal information for lawful purposes.
Another important provision empowers authorities to impose penalties of up to Rs 25 lakh on organizations that fail to implement adequate safeguards for protecting personal data or are found responsible for data security lapses. Earlier discussions on the legislation had proposed significantly higher penalties before the latest draft was released.
Revised Bill After Earlier Review
An earlier version of the data protection legislation was introduced in Parliament in 2018 but was later referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee after objections from opposition parties. The newly released draft incorporates a revised framework as the government moves forward with its data protection agenda.
