<p>Minister for Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday said private companies that are collecting customers' data should obey the law of the land.<br /><br />The government expects by year end recommendations from a 10-member committee, headed by Justice B N Srikrishna, on a framework for securing personal data and build safeguards against data breaches.<br /><br />“We have constituted a high-level committee on data protection headed by retired Judge Srikrishna. The court has acknowledged that a robust data regime is needed to balance the inequities at individual and national levels and above all in delivering social welfare schemes,” he told reporters here.<br /><br />The panel will deal with all the issues about data security. Based on the suggestion of the panel, the government will draft a data protection bill, said the minister.<br /><br />To a question on social media giants like WhatsApp and Facebook collecting user data, the minister said the matter has to be examined based on the judgement.<br /><br />“I wish that whoever is collecting consumers' data must obey the law of the land," he said.<br /><br />He also said that contrary to allegations by the Opposition, the government has always been of view, particularly with regard to Aadhaar, that privacy should be an inalienable right of individuals.<br /><br />On the benefits of Aadhaar, the minister claimed the government has saved Rs 57,000 crore through validation.<br /><br />“Aadhaar validates information for 3 crore people every day. The world is marvelling at this technology. It is completely homegrown. Should be proud,” he said.<br /><br />Prasad said the government cannot give permission for release of data except in compelling circumstances for which there is a strict laid-down procedure.<br /><br />He said about 30 crore Jan Dhan accounts have been opened which are linked to Aadhaar and also mobile numbers.<br /><br />DH News Service</p>
<p>Minister for Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday said private companies that are collecting customers' data should obey the law of the land.<br /><br />The government expects by year end recommendations from a 10-member committee, headed by Justice B N Srikrishna, on a framework for securing personal data and build safeguards against data breaches.<br /><br />“We have constituted a high-level committee on data protection headed by retired Judge Srikrishna. The court has acknowledged that a robust data regime is needed to balance the inequities at individual and national levels and above all in delivering social welfare schemes,” he told reporters here.<br /><br />The panel will deal with all the issues about data security. Based on the suggestion of the panel, the government will draft a data protection bill, said the minister.<br /><br />To a question on social media giants like WhatsApp and Facebook collecting user data, the minister said the matter has to be examined based on the judgement.<br /><br />“I wish that whoever is collecting consumers' data must obey the law of the land," he said.<br /><br />He also said that contrary to allegations by the Opposition, the government has always been of view, particularly with regard to Aadhaar, that privacy should be an inalienable right of individuals.<br /><br />On the benefits of Aadhaar, the minister claimed the government has saved Rs 57,000 crore through validation.<br /><br />“Aadhaar validates information for 3 crore people every day. The world is marvelling at this technology. It is completely homegrown. Should be proud,” he said.<br /><br />Prasad said the government cannot give permission for release of data except in compelling circumstances for which there is a strict laid-down procedure.<br /><br />He said about 30 crore Jan Dhan accounts have been opened which are linked to Aadhaar and also mobile numbers.<br /><br />DH News Service</p>
