81 amendments recommended by JPC in 99 sections of Data Protection Bill, says Ashwini Vaishnaw

Briefing on the withdrawal of Personal Data Protection Bill, Union Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on August 04 informed that Joint Committee of Parliament gave a very comprehensive report recommending 81 amendments in a Bill that was of 99 sections. “Joint Parliamentary Committee consulted a very large number of stakeholders. After it, Joint Committee of Parliament gave a very comprehensive report which recommended 81 amendments in a Bill that was of 99 sections. It was practically re-writing the entire Bill. Apart from the amendments, there were about 12 major suggestions from the committee. So to make sure that we do a very good comprehensive Bill, it was important to withdraw it and very soon we will come out with new Bill. Whole digital economy that we have and the way technology is changing rapidly, we need a contemporary and modern legal framework. Government is working on it and Personal Data Protection Bill will be a part of that. So, there’s an overhaul of legal framework. Our focus on making social media accountable has given good results. There’s a good response to any law enforcement agency request which comes. No question of coming under any pressure, it is a very conscious decision (of withdrawal) and a well-thought-out process,” he said.