Thread by @SauravDassss

Section 35 of the draft PDPB said that the central government can direct any agency of the government to process personal data if it thinks it is necessary in the interest of, and to prevent offences against the “sovereignty and integrity of India.... 1/3

caravanmagazine.in/technology/vid…

..."the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order.” This essentially takes away all safeguards against abusive datacollection, and processing by the government and gives unrestrained powers to government agencies to access the data of citizens...

Other damaging provisions include clauses proposing verification of social-media users; government access to anonymised data or non-personal data by directing data fiduciaries; lack of safeguards for anonymisation; and weakening of the Data Protection Authority, which....

..... was expected to act as an independent regulator!

Justice Srikrishna, the chairman of the expert committee, after the bill prepared by the govt was tabled in the House, said-

“However, if the government itself … will at any time say I want my officer to certify data in...

... "the interest of sovereignty of India, he can take anything from anybody. Not just personal data, they have made it wider and said even non-personal data can be accessed by agencies in the Bill. This is what is dangerous.”

This will be disastrous!

Srikrishna went to the extent of saying, “Somebody should challenge it before the Supreme Court on the grounds that it is unconstitutional.”

The Bill, if passed in its present form, will give legal sanction to what-is-supposed-to-be ILLEGAL snooping!