Lok Sabha passes Data protection bill amid opposition protests
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New Delhi: Lok Sabha on Monday passed the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill with a voice vote amid protests from the Opposition, alleging that the bill violates citizens' Right to Privacy.
Union Communications, Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw moved the bill in the Lok Sabha and the bill will now head to the Rajya Sabha, where the ruling coalition is short of the majority mark.
The opposition expressed concerns over the legislation and has been demanding that the bill be sent to a parliamentary panel for further deliberations. They also proposed amendments to the Bill, which include lowering the definition of children to mean those below 15 from the age limit of 18.
The Centre has established certain "legitimate causes" under which the government and private parties can process citizens' data without explicit consent, while it will impose restrictions on processing children's data.
The bill also mandates that India have its data protection regulator in the form of a Data Protection Board (DPB) and the chairperson and members of the board will be appointed by the Union government.
The bill also has provisions that give wide exemptions to the government. The proposed law says its provisions will not apply with respect to the processing of personal data when notified by “instrumentality of the state as the central government may notify".
These could be in cases related to the sovereignty and integrity of the country, security, friendly relations with foreign states, maintenance of public order, or preventing incitement to any cognizable offence relating to any of these.
The bill also proposes a maximum penalty of Rs 250 crore and a minimum of Rs 50 crore on entities violating the norms.