You have a right to your private information. Not all types of private data can be made public, nor can companies sell it for their own benefit. Data Protection Bill has been prepared to protect such interests of common consumers.
The Central Government has released the draft of the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill on Friday.
Under this bill, the government will create a Data Protection Board. Your data will not be used without your consent. Companies will have to give all the information to every digital citizen in clear and easy language. After the law is made, heavy fine can be imposed on the violation. Let us know what else is special in this bill.
Use of ‘Her’ and ‘She’ with ‘He’ and ‘His’
Hundreds of bills have been introduced earlier in Indian history, but till now His and He were used in the bills. This is the first time, ‘Her’ and ‘She’ have been used to denote all genders. However, it is not that in case of her-She or His-He being written in the bill, in both criminal and civil cases, the case against the other gender will not be prosecuted.
But in earlier bills, men were given priority by using His-He. Whereas in the draft of Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, priority has been given to women using Her-She.
What are the special features of the bill?
- Data cannot be used without the consent of the consumer
- Every citizen will have to give all the information to the companies in easy language
- Even if the customer gives permission to use the data, he can withdraw it at any time.
- Provision for fine up to 250 crores for misuse of customer data
- Government can keep agencies or states out of its ambit in national interest
- Data storage will have to be done in the country itself or in friendly countries (issued by the government)
- Government agencies and institutions will be able to keep data safe for unlimited time
- Government will form a board, orders will have to be followed
The government will form a regulatory body (board) for data protection. Consumers will be able to complain about misuse of their data or any other irregularity with the board.
Companies will have to compulsorily follow the orders of the board. However, if dissatisfied, an appeal can be made to the High Court. As mentioned above, companies have to store data in the country or in friendly countries. The government will release the list of friendly countries soon.