What is Personal Data Protection Bill? Why did the Indian govt withdraw it?

A data protection and privacy bill, which was first proposed in 2019, has been withdrawn by the Indian government. IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw moved the withdrawal of the Personal Data Protection Bill in Lok Sabha on Wednesday (August 3) after a joint parliamentary committee suggested 81 amendments to it.

"Considering the report of the JPC, 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," the IT Minister said in Lok Sabha.

Members of the erstwhile committee on the bill welcomed the government’s move to withdraw the legislation.

Earlier, big technology companies like Google and Facebook had raised issues over the bill that sought to regulate how an individual's data can be used.

What was the bill? The bill had proposed strict regulations on cross-border data flows and proposed giving the Indian government powers to seek user data from companies, reported Reuters.

• The bill had also proposed restrictions on the use of personal data without the explicit consent of citizens. It had also sought to provide the government with powers to give exemptions to its probe agencies from the provisions of the act, reported PTI.
• The bill had proposed social media platforms to create a mechanism so that for “every user who registers their service from India or uses their service from India, a voluntary verifiable account mechanism has to be made". The provision was largely aimed at checking social media trolling, reported the Mint.

Why was the bill withdrawn? According to a statement by the government, the bill was deliberated in great detail by the JCP. The committee had proposed 81 amendments and 12 recommendations for a comprehensive legal framework for the 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,” the statement said.

Attack from Opposition: The Opposition, mainly Congress and the TMC, had heavily criticised the government saying that the bill violated the fundamental rights of citizens. It was then sent to a joint committee of parliament for deliberation.

New bill: IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the government will bring a set of new legislation for a comprehensive legal framework for the digital economy.

After the bill was withdrawn, Minister of State for IT Rajeev Chandrashekhar said that the bill will soon be replaced by a comprehensive framework of global standard laws.

“This will soon be replaced by a comprehensive framework of global standard laws, including digital privacy laws, for contemporary and future challenges and catalyse PM Narendra Modi’s vision of India Techade,” Chandrasekhar tweeted.