Editors Guild for house panel review of Data Bill, tags fears

Synopsis The Guild has raised concerns about the independence of the Data Protection Board (DPB), which is proposed to be constituted by the DPDP Bill tabled in Parliament last week. ETtech The Editors Guild of India has raised concerns about the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill , urging the Lok Sabha speaker to send the draft law to a Parliamentary Standing Committee so that some of the issues potentially having a “chilling effect on journalistic activity in the country” could be discussed. The Information Technology ministry has also been urged to reconsider the bill so that access to a free Press, essential to a vibrant democracy, isn’t curbed.

The Guild has raised concerns about the independence of the Data Protection Board (DPB), which is proposed to be constituted by the DPDP Bill tabled in Parliament last week. “Further, the Guild urges the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, to place the bill before the Parliamentary Standing Committee for deliberation on the issues raised, as well as to reconsider those provisions. ” ETtech The bill is listed for debate on Monday in the Lok Sabha and the government expects to pass it in the current session.

In a statement on Sunday, the Guild said that the DPB has not been provided “independence and rulemaking powers”. “Lawyers, scholars and even judgments of the Supreme Court have noted that Tribunals (such as the Data Protection Board) must remain independent of the control by the executive, to maintain their effectiveness and credibility,” the Guild said, adding that since the DPB had been given powers to impose penalties, ensuring independence of the board from executive interference was “vital to preserve liberty”. On August 3, union minister for electronics and information technology Ashwini Vaishnaw introduced the DPDP Bill in the Lok Sabha.

Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories As per the new bill, the DPB to be set up has been given advisory powers through which it can recommend to the Centre to either have content taken down, or intermediary access blocked in “public interest”, if the board notices two or more instances of rule breaches by a platform. “The Guild urges the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to reconsider the provisions that Editors’ Guild of India has highlighted, and work to offer a data protection legislation to Indian citizens that does not compromise their right to free expression, right to information and right to a free Press,” it said. The Guild has already written to the Prime Minister, the speaker of the Lok Sabha, chairman of the Rajya Sabha, leaders of political parties in both the houses, as well as the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, highlighting its concerns, it added.

It also said the DPDP Bill had failed to make any provisions that brought about surveillance, a provision “urgently needed”. “Additionally, under Section 36, the government can ask any public or private entity (data fiduciary) to furnish personal information of citizens, including journalists and their sources,” the Guild noted. Don’t miss out on ET Prime stories! Get your daily dose of business updates on WhatsApp.

click here! Monday, 07 Aug, 2023 Experience Your Economic Times Newspaper, The Digital Way! Read Complete Print Edition » Front Page Pure Politics Companies Brands & Companies More IT Hardware Cos Seek Clarity on Import Licensing Process The IT hardware industry wants the government to clarify operational modalities around import licensing at the earliest so that it can make contingency plans, said senior executives. Import Curbs may Spark WTO Dispute: Experts India’s move to restrict imports of laptops and personal computers, among other products, could trigger a dispute at the World Trade Organization (WTO), experts said. The government has said that it’s within its rights to impose such measures to ensure national security.

US Freezes $26-m Fund Transfers by Indian Diamantaires The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), a US government arm, has, in the last couple of months, frozen about a dozen fund transfers worth nearly $26 million by multiple offshore firms belonging to Indian jewellers, for alleged import of rough diamonds mined in Russia. Read More News on Editors Guild guild bill Data Protection Board Data Bill supreme court Stay on top of technology and startup news that matters. Subscribe to our daily newsletter for the latest and must-read tech news, delivered straight to your inbox.

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