Lok Sabha Passes Data Protection Bill Amid Opposition Uproar

The bill was tabled the in Lok Sabha earlier on Thursday by Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Some amendments to the bill were moved by Opposition members but those were defeated by a voice vote. Now, the bill will be taken up in the Rajya Sabha,?

The bill was passed amid an uproar by the Opposition over the Manipur issue. Since the beginning of the Monsoon Session of the Parliament last month, the Opposition has been creating an uproar over Manipur violence and its demand of a statement on the issue from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.?

The bill was introduced in the parliament in December 2019 and was then sent to to the Joint Committee of the Houses for examination. The committee's report was presented to Lok Sabha in December 2021. Last year in August, however, the government withdrew the bill. Over the past year, the bill underwent a series of consultations and review.?

The Editors Guild of India (EGI) has expressed "deep concerns" about the bill and has said it could adversely affect press freedom.

In a statement, the EGI flagged the lack of transparent public consultation, concerns over surveillance, widening of censorship powers of the state, lack of exemptions for journalistic activities, potential impact on the Right to Information (RTI), and concerns over the composition and appointment of the Data Protection Board.?