The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) rules are now ready and will be released within the next 10 days. This information was given by Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnav on Thursday. He stated that an extensive consultation process had been completed before introducing these rules. Vaishnav said, "The DPDP rules are ready and will be published within a few days." He confirmed that they will be implemented by September 28th. The minister was speaking at the pre-event of the AI ​​Impact Summit.

The purpose of this law is to protect citizens' personal information and prevent its misuse by companies. Let's find out what provisions are made under this law to protect citizens' digital information.

Why is this law being introduced?
Today, everyone uses online services, be it banking, social media, or e-commerce. Through this, our name, address, mobile number, email, and even financial information are accessible to various companies and apps. If this data is leaked or falls into the wrong hands, it could cause significant damage. This law has been enacted to ensure the security of personal data in the digital world.

Key points of the law

Under the new data protection law, every individual will now have complete control over their personal data. Before using a company's data, it will be required to obtain clear and simple consent, which can be provided in any of India's 22 languages.

Companies will also be required to explain why they are collecting data and where it will be used. Furthermore, they will only be able to collect as much data as necessary and use it only for the specified purpose.

If any data breach occurs, companies will be required to immediately inform affected users and regulatory bodies.

Special rules have also been established for the protection of children under 18 years of age, protecting them from targeted advertising and potential misuse.

Under this law, citizens will also have the right to view, modify, delete, and revoke consent to their data.

An independent Data Protection Board (DPB) will be established to monitor compliance and resolve complaints, and will also impose penalties on those who violate the rules.

Concerns in the Media Sector
Several journalist organizations and the Editors Guild have expressed concern about the DPDP Act. Their biggest concern is Section 7. This provision requires obtaining consent before collecting or publishing information. Media organizations say this provision could impact journalistic freedom. For example, if a report is to be published on a corrupt official or contractor, obtaining consent would defeat the purpose of the report.

Furthermore, there are concerns that certain provisions of the law could force the Data Protection Board to force journalists to reveal their sources. Media organizations fear this will weaken the Right to Information (RTI) Act and make it difficult for the public to access important information.

Provision for Heavy Fines
Fines ranging from ₹500 to ₹200 crore can be imposed under the law. This is why journalists' organizations have called on the government to either amend the law or add clear safeguards to the regulations. However, there has been no sign of this happening yet. This has led to fears within the media sector that this law could impact press freedom.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Amar Ujala. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.