JPC on Personal Data Protection Bill: ‘As Indians, we must demand that the Right to Privacy be the seventh Fundamental Right’

Should our Right to Privacy be the Seventh Fundamental Right? This social media app owner thinks so.

Data breaches are becoming so common now that it’s a constant threat that someone has access to our private information. Information that we entrust with organisations without really understanding what we do.

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Two weeks back, after almost two years of deliberation and scrutiny, the JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee) on the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019, finalised its recommendations, and is likely to be tabled in the upcoming winter session of Parliament.

“Transparency is important, and everyone should be aware of the extent to which their data is at stake,” says Nanjunda Prasad Ramesh, CEO of Multi-Verse Technologies, which owns MYn, a made-in-India social media app that promises 100% digital privacy.

Transparency is important, and everyone should be aware of the extent to which their data is at stake

“The problem is that people don’t know how their data is being used by apps today. Apps are collecting user information to improve the app. They are sharing user information with advertisers to help them target potential consumers better,” he adds.

But none of this is clearly mentioned or explained anywhere in the Terms and Conditions. People don’t know how their data is being compromised.

“As a society, we must prioritise privacy. Privacy can be considered as a form of self-respect and as something that’s essential for a dignified life. Sacrificing privacy means sacrificing our ability to make decisions. It’s a personal matter and must be protected at any cost. Hence, as Indians, we must demand that the Right to Privacy be the seventh Fundamental Right,” he emphasises.

Sacrificing privacy means sacrificing our ability to make decisions. It’s a personal matter and must be protected at any cost

Speaking about the Personal Data Protection Bill development, he says it is indeed a significant step.

“This is undoubtedly a major step forward in ensuring every Indian’s personal data is protected. It has been long overdue and brings in much needed accountability when dealing with the data of people.”

He adds that while this is a good first step, we must not stop here.

I personally believe in the right to privacy, and I am glad to be a part of this movement

“The law must safeguard the interests of the people against indiscriminate use of data by any enterprise, be it private or government. The next step is to clearly limit the exemptions that are currently being provided,” he says.

“This ensures that we move ahead to protect the interests of citizens on priority rather than pushing the law by only focusing the loopholes in the current draft. We need to roll this out, make corrections and keep moving. I personally believe in the right to privacy, and I am glad to be a part of this movement,” he concludes.

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