Data Protection and Privacy - Cybersecurity Laws in India

We spend hundreds of hours online every year. The websites that we visit and the applications that we use all ask for one or other kind of permissions to access your mobile data. This creates problems with trying to keep personal user data safe. Furthermore, the lack of effective laws has led to numerous instances of identity theft and even more severe cybercrimes.

Fortunately, the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) recently approved the Personal Data Protection Bill 2019. This is a major initiative to turn the internet in India into a safe and secure platform.

Fulfilling the Need for Stricter Cyber Laws in India

The Personal Data Protection Bill 2019 covers five significant aspects of internet use:

• First off, it protects the privacy and keeps the national interest in focus too. This is necessary to keep pace with the dynamic virtual world. An exemption allows the government to process a user’s data if it threatens the integrity and sovereignty of the nation. Such clauses exist in cyber laws of different countries, including the US, UK, Australia, and many European nations.
• Secondly, sections 12, 13, and 14 of the Bill define the situations in which the government can request access to users’ personal data from data storage companies. This step makes it easier for the country’s larger illiterate population to be burdened by consent at every corner.
• Next up, the new Bill has also helped to streamline the Standardization Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) process. This will help to ensure reliable and safe hardware and software to be sold. This step is crucial to prevent third-party backdoor access to resources on the user’s device.
• Then, the Bill also defines clear-cut responsibilities for officials of social media sites. This will ensure compliance with the new cyber rules. The officials could be held accountable and liable for penalties under the new law.
• Lastly, the committee also agreed that non-personal data should be treated with the same level of protection as personal data.

These regulations need to be enforced as soon as possible. Incidences of cyber-attacks, especially on social media platforms, are rising. An effective regulatory system is the need of the hour.

You can find further details on more such aspects by clicking on the link https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/ChanakyaCode/jpc-approves-personal-data-protection-bill-2019-crosses-an-important-landmark/ .

Noteworthy Aspects of the Personal Data Protection Bill 2019

These are some of the major points to remember within the new Personal Data Protection Bill 2019:

Application of the Bill

This Bill regulates how the government and corporations process the personal data of internet users. This includes any data with characteristics, attributes, or traits that can identify individual users.

Obligations of data processors

The purpose, storage, and collection limits will determine the processors of personal data. Personal data will be processed under this Bill only for clear, specific, and legal purposes. Data processors will also need to integrate better transparency and accountability measures in their data processing.

User rights

The Bill gives several clear-cut rights to individuals, also called data principles. Users have the right to know if their data is processed, and they can seek correction of incomplete, inaccurate, and out-of-date personal data. The user can also request to transfer their data to another data processor under certain conditions. The user can also restrict disclosure of personal data by a data processing authority if not necessary or done without consent.

To know additional details of provisions in the Personal Data Protection Bill 2019, you can simply visit this website at http://164.100.47.4/BillsTexts/LSBillTexts/Asintroduced/373_2019_LS_Eng.pdf .

Conclusion

In short, the Bill resolves threats to data security and user privacy. It acknowledges the importance of cyber-security laws to ensure protection of national interests. As increasing number of users go online every day, this data protection bill will be beneficial to ensure optimal user safety and data security for Indian users.