Centre withdraws Data Protection Bill, to bring in new legislation | India News,The Indian Express

In a statement, Union I-T minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "The Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 was deliberated in great detail by the Joint Committee of Parliament. 81 amendments were proposed and 12 recommendations were made towards comprehensive legal framework on digital ecosystem."

Union Information and Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Wednesday withdrew the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019.

In a statement, Vaishnaw said, “The Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 was deliberated in great detail by the Joint Committee of Parliament. 81 amendments were proposed and 12 recommendations were made towards comprehensive legal framework on digital ecosystem. Considering the report of the JCP, a comprehensive legal framework is being worked upon. Hence, in the circumstances, it is proposed to withdraw ‘The Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019’ and present a new bill that fits into the comprehensive legal framework.”

While a data protection law has been under consideration for several years, the current Bill had alarmed big tech companies. Civil society groups had also criticised the open-ended exceptions given to the government in the Bill, allowing for surveillance.

Following the centre’s decision to withdraw the Personal Data Protection Bill, Congress MP Manish Tewari said that he had rejected the Bill from the beginning. He added that better legislation would have emerged if it had been debated in the parliament.

1/2 I had rejected Personal Data Protection Bill en-toto in my dissent note since it split Data universe into Govt- EXEMPT & Private Sector where it would apply with full rigour. I still believe that had it been debated on floor of the house better legislation could have emerged pic.twitter.com/INjxUB8x56

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/government-withdraws-data-protection-bill-8068257/

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