What is the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill about?
Union Communications, Electronics, and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently presented the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill, 2023, in the Lok Sabha. The bill also got passed in the Rajya Sabha.
This bill aims to control and protect the use and storage of data as part of the right to privacy. It also makes rules for what companies can do with someone’s data and what rights the person has. You can read all about it here. But specific changes have been made regarding how the bill protects children.
What are the changes made that affect children?
The DPDP Bill limits children's internet access. The bill defines a child as someone younger than 18. It says online platforms must get parental consent before collecting a child's data. The bill also mentions that websites can't gather any data about a child that can have a negative effect on them.
Some websites watch what you do online, like what you search for, to show you ads. But if you are under 18, they can't do that. A few websites don't have to follow this rule if the government thinks that website keeps data safe. This can help educational websites.
Failure to follow any rules regarding children's data may result in a fine of up to Rs. 200 crores.
What do experts say about the changes?
Some experts have criticised some of the changes. They think rules should be different for kids aged 13 to 16 than for those under 13. They don't want all kids to have the same rules.
Experts also say some parents learn how to use the internet from their kids. So, they're not sure if these parents know what websites are good or bad for kids. This is why digital literacy must be considered before adding the rule on parental consent.
