Aloke Srivastab, New Delhi, Voice 9: The introduction of the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill,
2023, was strongly challenged by opposition members of Parliament, who claimed
that the law violated the basic right to privacy. Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar,
on the other hand, stated, "This Bill cannot be delayed any longer because
it goes to the heart of stopping the practice of exploitation of personal data
by many platforms that are doing it. So, why is the opposition scared to
initiate a discussion on the Digital Personal Data Bill? It is beyond me."
Today, Union Communications, Electronics, and Information
Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw introduced the Digital Personal Data
Protection Bill, 2023, in the Lok Sabha.
Members of the opposition demanded that the measure be referred
to the standing committee for review. They said that the government withdrew a
data protection measure last year and that the present bill requires additional
review. Vaishnaw stated that it is not a money bill and that the opposition's
concerns will be addressed during the discussion. The bill calls for digital
personal data to be processed in a way that "recognizes both the right of
individuals to protect their personal data and the need to process such personal
data for lawful purposes."
On the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, Union Minister
Rajeev Chandrasekhar says, "I certainly don't see any need for a committee
to go into the Bill because a) there has been extensive consultation on the
Bill. The Bill and this whole idea, or the whole concept of protecting
citizens, have gone through a Joint Committee of Parliament."
