IAMAI (The Internet and Mobile Association of India)- a trade group, praised the government on 2nd January for making the bill “industry-friendly” at times when tech giants like Amazon, Twitter, Google, and Meta have requested clarifications about multiple provisions of the ‘Digital Personal Data Protection Bill’ and have criticized the government for some of its provisions.
IAMAI claimed that this step had achieved “the correct balance” between safeguarding the rights of the ‘data principals’ while also providing freedom for tech start-ups to develop and innovate.
The industry group, with over 400 members made up of MNCs and Indian businesses, welcomed the DPDP Bill’s removal of non-personal data as well as the more liberalized environment for international data flows.
The industry body said in a statement said, “IAMAI also appreciates that the Bill imposes only financial penalties for non-compliance as opposed to both financial and criminal penalties.”
The industry group has, however, also asked for explanations on the timing for putting some of the bill’s provisions into effect and on the procedures for getting verifiable parental agreement to process children’s personal information.
The industry body further said, “As the inclusion of specific timelines will provide a roadmap for the industry to better comply with the Bill, IAMAI has requested the government to clearly indicate reasonable timelines by which the various provisions of the DPDP will be implemented and to adopt a graded approach to prescribing such timelines.”
This request is consistent with those made by organizations that represent Tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and others, such as the Asia Internet Coalition and The Software Alliance.
To this, Dr. Subho Ray (IAMAI, President) stated, “By following a deep and wide process of consultation including that of a joint parliamentary committee, excluding non-essential provisions, by making a clear commitment that no Rules exceeding the provisions of the Act would be made, and yet protecting the interests of the state, citizens and the digital economy, this Bill has possibly set up new standards of law-making”.