Union Cabinet approves Digital Personal Data Protection Bill

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet has approved the draft Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill, which aims to prevent misuse of personal data. The bill has a provision to levy a maximum penalty of Rs 250 crore on those who misuse personal information. The bill will be introduced in the annual session starting July 20.

The Personal Information Protection Bill, introduced in Parliament in December 2019, was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee. Then in August 2022, the Digital Personal Data Protection bill was introduced after the bill was withdrawn. Public opinion was also sought.

A fine of up to Rs 200 crore can be levied for personal data breach and mishandling of data related to children. Rights of individuals, duties of organizations processing personal data and regulatory framework are also part of the bill. The bill stipulates that organizations must handle personal data lawfully and in a manner that does not harm the individuals concerned. Only personal data necessary for a specific purpose shall be collected. The bill also provides for necessary safeguards to ensure that personal data is not collected or used in an unauthorized manner.