ET Legal World: Delhi: Thursday,
17 October 2024.
NITI Aayog objected to the
proposed data protection law, citing concerns about amendments to the Right to
Information (RTI) Act. The amendments could limit access to personal
information, which critics say might weaken the RTI Act. Despite objections,
the Digital Personal Data Protection Act was passed in August 2023. The law is
yet to be enforced.
On September 29, media reports indicated that NITI Aayog raised objections to certain provisions of the proposed law, specifically highlighting concerns related to the amendments affecting the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The opposition came in the backdrop of protests and pushback from the civil societies.
The proposed data protection law includes an amendment to a section of the RTI Act, which critics argue could "weaken" the legislation by limiting access to personal information, even when it serves the larger public interest.
On January 16, 2023, Niti Aayog formally written to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) urging the government to not proceed in its current form and suggested fresh opinion to be sought, according to the report as part of an RTI application. "The revelation only reaffirms what civil society organisations have been saying through consultations and their objections. It's a disservice to the nation that the DoPT omitted to object. Disclosures under the RTI Act didn't constitute an invasion of privacy as sufficient safeguards were built in the statute," said Mishi Choudhary, Founder, Software Freedom Law Centre India (SFLC.in)
On September 29, media reports indicated that NITI Aayog raised objections to certain provisions of the proposed law, specifically highlighting concerns related to the amendments affecting the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The opposition came in the backdrop of protests and pushback from the civil societies.
The proposed data protection law includes an amendment to a section of the RTI Act, which critics argue could "weaken" the legislation by limiting access to personal information, even when it serves the larger public interest.
On January 16, 2023, Niti Aayog formally written to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) urging the government to not proceed in its current form and suggested fresh opinion to be sought, according to the report as part of an RTI application. "The revelation only reaffirms what civil society organisations have been saying through consultations and their objections. It's a disservice to the nation that the DoPT omitted to object. Disclosures under the RTI Act didn't constitute an invasion of privacy as sufficient safeguards were built in the statute," said Mishi Choudhary, Founder, Software Freedom Law Centre India (SFLC.in)
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