National Desk, 4th August: The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday by Union Minister for Communications, Electronics, and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, despite strong opposition. The amended bill proposes a penalty of up to Rs 250 crores for each data breach.
The primary objective of the Bill is to prevent the misuse and exploitation of personal data.
While it grants certain exemptions to the government for investigations or financial information related to defaulted loans, it comes six years after the Supreme Court of India declared the Right to Privacy as a fundamental right.
Under certain circumstances, the Bill allows data processing without user consent, such as during medical emergencies, disasters, court orders, and government agency requirements.
Penalties for organisations deemed to have violated the rules stated in the Bill might range from a minimum of Rs 50 crore to a maximum of Rs 250 crore.
Moreover, the Bill empowers the Centre to block access to content in the interest of the general public based on a written reference from the board.
The legislation also holds both the government and private companies accountable with strict provisions.
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