Consumers can look forward to an era of data privacy
Digital India mission prompts concerns around privacy and data security. The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023, that was passed by the Lok Sabha on Monday, aims to address these pressing issues and it will significantly impact the lives of consumers.
While the law is still to go into force, its enactment after likely Rajya Sabha clearance will mark a significant development in the decade-long journey of establishing a data protection regime for India. The version of the Bill that found passage, as per government reports, is understood to be a result of over 20,000 consultations, and it aims to protect personal data, uphold privacy, promote fairness and transparency, and safeguard individual rights.
The Bill seems drafted to usher in a new dawn of privacy in India, which has the potential to alter consumer behaviour and attitudes towards the businesses they patronize. Consumers could be expected to become more vigilant about the collection, processing and storage of their personal data by businesses.
While people have rapidly been adopting digital technologies, the Bill now promises them increased control over their personal data by allowing them to provide or withdraw their consent to specific purposes of data processing. This provision ensures that consumers would be fully informed about how their data will be used, offering them greater transparency on the data practices of businesses.
As a result, consumers can make more informed decisions about sharing their data, which will foster a sense of trust in the digital landscape. Consumers can also exercise several other rights in relation to their personal data, like their right to know what data is held by a Data Fiduciary (an entity entrusted with it), what it
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