The Federal House on Wednesday passed the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023 by voice vote after opposition members went on strike over Manipur.
The House of Representatives passed the bill on Monday.
The bill, which comes six years after the Supreme Court declared “privacy” a fundamental right, contains provisions to curb the misuse of personal data by online platforms.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the bill imposes obligations on private and government entities in collecting and processing citizens’ data.
The bill, which aims to protect the privacy of Indian citizens, also proposes fines of up to Rs 2.5 billion for entities that misuse or fail to protect personal digital data.
Bringing the bill to the upper house of parliament for consideration and passage, Federal Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said: “It would be great if the opposition discussed the bill today (in the House of Representatives). But no opposition leader or member is worried about the bill. rights.” He said the bill was introduced after extensive public consultation.
Highlighting the salient features of the bill, the minister said its language is so simple that even ordinary people can understand it.
Referring to some of the principles on which the bill is based, Vishno said that under the principle of legality, personal data must be obtained in accordance with existing laws and not be used for purposes beyond the purpose for which it was collected.
Federal House MPs John Brittas and V Sivadasan moved to refer the bill to a parliamentary select committee, but it was not moved as the bill was absent from the House of Representatives when it was voted on.
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