The much-anticipated report of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 was tabled in Rajya Sabha, and Lok Sabha on 16th December 2021. The Committee Report reviewing the country’s first proposed Data Protection law was tabled after two years after of its introduction in Lok Sabha.

The Committee has put forward its views by stating that the Personal Data Protection (PDP) Bill must cover both personal and non-personal data till an additional provision is implemented to distinguish both. The report said that the Data Protection Authority will regulate a separate provision for non-personal data bills. The Committee has also advised the Government to set a timeline for the implementation of the Act.

The bill can also affect the social media platforms and as per the JPC Report, recommendations of a statutory media regulatory authority have been made to regulate the content on all social media platforms.

Along with these provisions, the Committee report also focused on the concerns of financial transactions, more secured digital systems to boost the digital economy, regulating hardware manufacturers and related entities, data localization provisions, penalties for data breaches and other cyber offenses.

Thus, the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 can improvise the digital era of India by incorporating several adaptations and provisions useful for individuals and industries that are dependent on digital facilities.

Chinmayee Kulkarni

(Content Writer, WCSF)