Rahul Gandhi Raises Alarm Over Digital Personal Data Protection Act

Synopsis

On March 25, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi raised alarms about the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, claiming it threatens transparency and public access to information. Following discussions with various activists and experts, he emphasized the potential risks this legislation poses to the Right to Information Act and vowed that the Congress Party would work to protect citizens' rights.

Key Takeaways

Rahul Gandhi highlights risks of DPDPA.
Concerns over transparency and RTI Act.
Critics argue legislation limits public information access.
Congress Party pledges to address these issues.
Broader debate on privacy vs. public information ensues.

New Delhi, March 25 (NationPress) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed serious concerns regarding the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) on Tuesday, asserting that it signifies a major risk to transparency and public access to information in India.

Following a meeting with a diverse assembly of activists, editors, researchers, and domain specialists in Parliament, Gandhi underscored how this new legislation could jeopardize the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

He remarked, "Today, I had the privilege of meeting a diverse group of activists, editors, researchers, and domain experts in Parliament. They expressed deep concerns about the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, particularly its potential effects on the RTI Act's reach."

The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, designed to govern the handling of personal data, has sparked worry among critics who contend that it may limit access to essential public information. Gandhi stressed that while privacy is crucial, the legislation could inadvertently restrict the public's capacity to hold the government accountable.

"This legislation, under the guise of ensuring privacy, limits access to public information, which is vital for citizens and journalists to hold the government accountable," he stated.

The Congress leader accused the NDA government of trying to protect itself from scrutiny, thereby compromising transparency and undermining democratic oversight. "The NDA government is attempting to shield itself from scrutiny, compromising transparency, and eroding democratic oversight," Gandhi stated.

In light of these issues, Gandhi assured that the Congress Party would take appropriate measures to address the matter. "In the spirit of accountability and good governance, the Congress Party will engage with INDIA leaders and take essential steps to safeguard the rights of our citizens," he declared.

This meeting has ignited a broader discussion on the equilibrium between privacy protection and the right to access public information, with numerous political and civil society organizations urging the government to reevaluate certain aspects of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act.