The problems with the Data Protection Bill https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-problems-with-the-data-protection-bill/article66531928.ece February 21, 2023 Anjali Bhardwaj,Amrita Johri
The Bill must be put through a process of rigorous pre-legislative consultation and redrafted before it makes its way to Parliament
First, the Bill seeks to dilute the provisions of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, which has empowered citizens to access information and hold governments accountable.801j - "information which cannot be denied to parliament,, shall not be denied to any person.. Based on the incorrect understanding as being applicable only to privacy exemption, this orvision is sought to be deleted. But the Shah Report has said "privacy Act should clarify that publication of personal data for public interest .. should not be constitute infringement of Privacy...
Third given that government is the biggest data repository, .. the oversight body should be adequately independent to act on violation of the law by government entitites...
finally, the bill stipulates that the Data Protection Board should be digital by design.. this when 33% women have never used the internet..