Digital PDP Bill to be introduced in monsoon session; controversially, govt exempted from its provisions
As per multiple reports, the Union cabinet approved the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022 (DPDP Bill) on Wednesday and it would be introduced in Parliament during the monsoon session.
Its objective is to ensure that the processing of digital personal data by any entity protects citizens’ privacy. It also aims to empower citizens to better control the information they share online— including withdrawing permission, reviewing and correcting the data that is shared, nominating someone as controller of the data in case of death or incapacitation and being able to get grievances addressed.
However, the bill exempts “any instrumentality of the State in the interests of sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, maintenance of public order or preventing incitement to any cognizable offense relating to any of these”, in short, the government and its agencies, from the provisions of the bill.
