Digital India Act: MoS Chandrashekhar presented details | Experts tell News18 why it matters

Union Minister of State for Electronics & Information technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar presented the goals and design principles of the Digital India Act during the Digital India Dialogue in Bengaluru on 9 March.

The minister not only presented the objectives and ideas behind the Act, but also mentioned that it was the first time that a public consultation for a new law began with a dialogue.

During the presentation, MoS Chandrasekhar also pointed out the challenges that the old laws have not been able to address in a largely evolving digital world, including online crimes, cyber security, hate speech, misinformation and fake news.

According to the presentation, the new law should meet the principles of Digital India and progress through regulations, while ensuring that the primary focus areas are open internet, online safety and trust, accountability and quality of service, supportive mechanisms and There are new technologies.

However, it was mentioned that a core team in the IT Ministry is working on it which includes MoS, Additional Secretary, GC Cyberlaw, ASG, external legal experts and industry experts.

The team will focus on doing a comparative study of all relevant global laws related to internet and technology in other countries, then draft the bill, consult as well as draft the cabinet note and policy.

expert opinion

Major Vineet Kumar, founder and global president of Cyberpeace Foundation, told News18 that the Digital India Act aims to replace the IT Act of 2000 and create a modern and comprehensive legal framework that is in sync with global standards of cyber laws. Is for. Among other bills, the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022, the Telecommunication Bill 2022 and the Intermediary Rules.

According to him, the objective is:

  • It seeks to establish an internet regulator.
  • The right of the individual to secure their information and the need to use personal data for legal purposes provide the main barriers to data protection or regulation.
  • It tries to deal with this difficulty. A limit will be set to how far an individual’s personal information can be accessed for legal reasons.
  • Most of the features of the bill are contrary to the EU General Data Protection Regulation.

“It is important to enact a law that lays down new guidelines for the rights and responsibilities of individuals and mentions the need to collect data. It should foster innovation and growth by providing a clear and predictable regulatory environment,” Kumar said.

Shashank Sahu, Head of Marketing at InstaSafe said that this act is a much needed change which was overdue.

“It has considered the cyber security needs of users, data privacy, data moderation and the scope of emerging technologies such as AI, ML and ChatGPT. With growing cyber threats, Digital India and cyber security should be firmly integrated to create a secure-digital India movement,” he said.

Roland Landers, CEO of All India Gaming Federation, lauded the act on social media. He told News18 that he believes that “a comprehensive law that allows for innovation while protecting user safety is actually the way to ensure India’s place as the global standard-setter for regulating the digital sector.” will go a long way in the direction”.

Meanwhile, Manish Mimani, CEO and founder of Protect.AI, believes that the act can help consumers and businesses trust each other, by ensuring that personal information is protected and promoting secure digital transactions. as well as promote innovation and development in digital. Area.

However, he added: “It is essential that the Act is inclusive and takes into account the diverse needs and interests of all stakeholders. The Act should also be aligned with international best practices and standards to ensure that India emerges as a global digital leader.” Remain competitive in the economy.

Additionally, he said that the implementation of the Act should be carefully monitored and evaluated to ensure its effectiveness in achieving its objectives.

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