Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
6. Cleared by the Cabinet, the Personal Data Protection Bill is due to be placed in Parliament. How does it propose to protect personal data, how is it different from previous draft, and why is it a subject of debate? Discuss in detail. (250 words)
Why this question:
Global negotiations today revolve around debates about the transfer of data. India’s first attempt to domestically legislate on the topic, the Personal Data Protection (PDP) Bill, 2019, has been approved by the Cabinet and is slated to be placed in Parliament this winter session.
Key demand of the question:
One must explain in detail the current case of data protection, issues and challenges and way forward.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Explain first why data matters.
Body:
- Data is any collection of information that is stored in a way so computers can easily read them (think 011010101010 format).
- Data usually refers to information about your messages, social media posts, online transactions, and browser searches.
- The individual whose data is being stored and processed is called the data principal in the PDP Bill.
- This large collection of information about you and your online habits has become an important source of profits, but also a potential avenue for invasion of privacy because it can reveal extremely personal aspects.
- Companies, governments, and political parties find it valuable because they can use it to find the most convincing ways to advertise to you online.
- Discuss how the PDP Bill proposes to regulate data transfer, what are the key concerns associated with it.
- Suggest solutions to overcome these issues.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
