The current Bill had drawn criticism from several civil society groups who had said the exceptions given to the government allow room for surveillance.
New Delhi: The Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019, which regulated how an individual’s data can be used by companies and the government, was on Wednesday withdrawn by Union Information and Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The move came after a joint parliamentary committee suggested 81 changes to it.
The current Bill had drawn criticism from several civil society groups who had said the exceptions given to the government allow room for surveillance.
In a statement, Vaishnaw said, “The Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 was deliberated in great detail by the Joint Committee of Parliament. 81 amendments were proposed and 12 recommendations were made towards comprehensive legal framework on digital ecosystem. Considering the report of the JCP, a comprehensive legal framework is being worked upon. Hence, in the circumstances, it is proposed to withdraw ‘The Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019’ and present a new bill that fits into the comprehensive legal framework.”
The Opposition, including the Congress and the Trinamool Congress (TMC), has vehemently protested against the Bill, following which, it was sent to the parliamentary panel. The Opposition had alleged that the data privacy law violated fundamental rights of the citizens.
The law gave sweeping powers to the government in terms of access to personal data of individuals citing national security and other reasons, the Opposition said.
The Bill defined personal data as information that could help in the identification of an individual and has characteristics, traits and other features of a person’s identity.
Top technology companies and the industry stakeholders were keenly waiting for the Personal Data Protection Bill as it could alter the way all major internet companies process, store and transfer consumers’ data.
