IT Parliamentary Committee tables report; Ashwini Vaishnaw says data bill not referred to committee

The Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology tabled in Parliament the forty eighth report on Citizens’ Data Security and Privacy on Tuesday. ET has reviewed a replica of it.

As reported by ET on Friday, the conclusion of the report says, “The Committee, in no uncertain words stresses the urgent necessity for the early enactment of a robust and all-encompassing legislation that effectively safeguards citizens’ data and privacy”.

As the digital panorama continues to evolve quickly, such laws would function an important protecting measure, making certain the safe and accountable dealing with of non-public info whereas instilling public confidence within the digital ecosystem, the report says. It is referring to the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill (DPDPB) which was cleared by the Cabinet final month and is prone to be tabled within the Parliament this week.

Delaying the implementation of such a complete framework might doubtlessly expose people to numerous dangers and compromise the privateness rights of residents, it additional reads.

“Hence, the Committee strongly advocates for the immediate action of enacting this crucial legislation to protect the interests and rights of citizens in the digital age,” the report says.

ET had reported earlier that a number of opposition MPs had considerations relating to the report and had stage a walked out over it.

Meanwhile, speaking concerning the report, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw mentioned the invoice was not referred to the committee. “The committee had taken up the subject of ‘Citizens Data Security and Privacy’. The panel report that has been tabled today clearly states that the law on privacy should be enacted as soon as possible.”Rajeev Chandrashekhar, minister of state for electronics and data know-how, additionally tweeted on Tuesday saying that no Bill together with the proposed DPDPB might be referred to any committee except it’s executed so by the Parliament.

In flip, the Bill can solely be referred to the committee after the Cabinet-approved Bill is launched within the Parliament, he mentioned.

DPDPB has not been launched within the Parliament and so, query of contemplating it within the committee doesnt come up, Chandrashekhar mentioned, tagging the Prime Minister’s Office and IT Committee chairperson Prataprao Jadhav.

John Brittas, MP, CPI-M, informed ET, “The report revolves around DPDPB that has been approved by the Cabinet but not introduced in the House or referred to the Committee. Which is why Opposition members in the Committee staged a walkout over that report prepared before seeing the final Bill, which was tabled today.”

Brittas has given a dissent word on the report.

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