Suara Malaysia
ADVERTISEMENTFly London from Kuala LumpurFly London from Kuala Lumpur
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
More
    ADVERTISEMENTFly London from Kuala LumpurFly London from Kuala Lumpur
    HomeTechIndia enacts data protection law to address surveillance

    India enacts data protection law to address surveillance

    -

    Fly AirAsia from Kuala Lumpur

    NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Indian lawmakers on Wednesday passed a data protection law that will dictate how tech companies process users’ data amid criticism that it will likely lead to increased surveillance by the government.

    The law will allow companies to transfer some users’ data abroad while giving the government power to seek information from firms and issue directions to block content on the advice of a data protection board appointed by the federal government.

    The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023 gives the government powers to exempt state agencies from the law and gives users the right to correct or erase their personal data.

    The new legislation comes after India withdrew a 2019 privacy bill that had alarmed tech companies like Facebook and Google with its proposals for stringent restrictions on cross-border data flows.

    The law proposes penalties of up to 2.5 billion rupees ($30 million) for violations and non-compliance.

    However, it has drawn criticism from opposition lawmakers and rights groups over the scope of exemptions.

    The Internet Freedom Foundation, a digital rights group, has also said that the law does not contain any meaningful safeguards against “over-broad surveillance”, while the Editors Guild of India has said it affects press freedom and dilutes the Right to Information law.

    Deputy minister for information technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar has said that the law will protect the rights of all citizens, allow the innovation economy to expand, and permit the government legitimate access in the case of national security and emergencies like pandemics and earthquakes.

    ALSO READ:  Poland investigates OpenAI over privacy concerns

    ($1 = 82.8100 Indian rupees)

    (Reporting by Blassy Boben; Additional reporting by Shivam Patel; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)


    Credit: The Star : Tech Feed

    Wan
    Wan
    Dedicated wordsmith and passionate storyteller, on a mission to captivate minds and ignite imaginations.

    Related articles

    ADVERTISEMENTFly London from Kuala Lumpur

    Subscribe to Newsletter

    To be updated with all the latest news, offers and special announcements.

    Latest posts