Personal data Bill adopted by JPC

The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on “Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019” met recently under the leadership of MP PP Chaudhary.

Highlights

• Key agenda of the meeting was to consider and adopt the draft report of JPC on the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019.
• The bill deals with privacy and security of citizen’s personal data.
• Members of the JPC have been given the deadline of November 24, to submit their dissent.
• JPC held its last meeting on November 12.

About the Bill

• Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 was drafted following a Supreme Court ruling in August 2017, that declared ‘Right to Privacy’ a fundamental right.
• Cabinet had approved the Bill in December 2019.
• It aims to provide for protection of privacy of individuals related to their personal data.
• It also seeks to specify the flow & usage of personal data and create a relationship of trust between entities and persons processing the personal data.
• Bill will also protect the rights of individuals whose personal data are processed.
• It will also create a framework for organisational and technical measures to process data.
• It will also lay down norms for:

1. Social media intermediary
2. Accountability of entities processing personal data
3. Cross-border transfer
4. Remedies for unauthorised & harmful processing
5. To establish a Data Protection Authority of India.

Can State utilise private data of individuals?

According to this law, State can utilise private data of individual, without their consent under following conditions:

• For provision of any service or benefit to data principal from State
• To issue of any license, certification, or permit for any action
• Under any law made by Parliament or any State Legislature
• To comply with any order or judgment of Court or Tribunal in India.
• To respond any medical emergency that involves a threat to the life.