Srikrishna panel on data protection submits report to Govt; moots penalties for violation
NEW DELHI: The high-level panel on data protection framework on Friday submitted its report to the government, suggesting steps for safeguarding personal information, defining obligations of data processors as also rights of individuals, and mooting penalties for violation.
Headed by Justice B N Srikrishna, the panel handed the report to IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, wrapping up nearly one year of deliberations that touched upon sensitive and controversial issues.
The areas covered included consent, what comprises personal data including sensitive personal data, exemptions which can be granted, grounds for processing data, storage restrictions for personal data, individual rights and right to be forgotten.
“It is a monumental law and we would be like to have widest parliamentary consultation... We want Indian data protection law to become a model glo bally, blending security, privacy, safety and innovation,” Prasad said.
He added that the report will go through the process of inter-ministerial consultations and Cabinet as well as parliamentary approval.
Justice Srikrishna said privacy has become a burning issue and therefore, every effort has to be made to protect data at any cost.
He added that report straddles three aspects - citizens, the state and the industry.
He stated that this report is the first step and as technology changes, it may become necessary to fine tune the law keeping with the changes.
The report touches on variety of issues including consent, rights of children, data protection authority and right to recall data.
As far as data storage is concerned, the report identifies circumstances under which data has to be mandatorily stored in India and cases where it can be stored with mirroring provisions. The report asserts that critical data has to be stored in India.
The government had constituted the 10-member committee in July 2017 to recommend a framework for securing personal data in the increasingly digitised economy as also to address privacy concerns and build safeguards against data breaches.