Indian Gov’t Push to Exempt Security Agencies from Data Protection Bill

The Indian government is reportedly engaged in last minute talks with various security and intelligence agencies to find ways for them to be exempted from the Personal Data Protection Bill.

 

The agencies, such as state police forces, balked at the bill as it would affect their access to data and are thus seeking protection. Some of the agencies urged a blanket exemption as in Section 24 of the Right to Information Act, while others endorsed the model followed in the IT Act under which recently allowed 10 agencies to act as authorities empowered to intercept digital traffic through a laid out approval process.

 

The proposed data protection bill requires entities to get the consent of individuals before accessing their personal data and does not distinguish between government and private entities.

 

Source: Economic Times India