Privacy And Data Protection

Sensitive personal data or information (SPDI) is a category of personal data that is considered to be more sensitive than other types of personal data. SPDI under Indian data protection laws includes information such as passwords, financial information, physical, physiological and mental health condition, sexual orientation, biometric information, and any detail relating to the above items provided to a body corporate for providing services.

Yes, consent is required to collect and process personal data under Indian data protection laws. Companies that collect or process personal data in India need consent to do so. Consent must be specific, informed, and freely given. There are narrow exceptions to the consent requirement. Companies should ensure they have valid consent from individuals whose data they collect and process. The company must inform the data subject about the purpose of data collection and obtain their consent.

Companies that transfer personal data outside India need to take reasonable steps to ensure that the data is protected. This includes assessing the data protection laws of the country where the data will be transferred, obtaining consent from the individual for the transfer, and using a data transfer agreement (DTA) to protect the data.

Individuals in India have a number of rights over their personal data, including the right to access, correct, delete, object to, and port their personal data. Companies that collect or process personal data in India should be aware of these rights and should ensure that they comply with them.

Companies that collect or process sensitive personal data or information (SPDI) in India are required to notify the affected individuals and the relevant authorities within 72 hours of becoming aware of a data breach. The notification must include the nature of the breach, the type of SPDI that was compromised, the number of individuals affected, the steps that have been taken to mitigate the breach, and the contact information for the company.

No, you cannot use personal data for marketing purposes without explicit consent in India. The IT Act and the PDP Bill both require companies to obtain explicit consent from individuals before using their personal data for marketing purposes. Explicit consent means that the individual must actively agree to the use of their personal data for marketing purposes. There are a few exceptions to the consent requirement, but these are narrow and should only be used in limited circumstances.

The maximum retention period for personal data under Indian data protection laws is not specifically prescribed. However, the IT Act and the PDP Bill provide some guidance on how long personal data can be retained. The PDP Bill provides for a maximum retention period of six years for personal data that is not sensitive personal data, and two years for sensitive personal data. However, these maximum retention periods can be extended if the data is required for legal or regulatory purposes.

Companies that collect or process personal data in India should consult with a lawyer to determine the appropriate retention period for their specific circumstances.

There are no specific requirements for data localization in India at present. However, the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022 (PDP Bill) which is yet to be implemented proposes to require certain organizations to store personal data of Indian citizens within India. The PDP Bill also proposes to give the government the power to order the localization of personal data in certain cases.

Companies that collect or process personal data of Indian citizens should monitor the progress of the PDP Bill and be prepared to comply with any localization requirements that may be imposed.

The IT Act gives individuals the right to request the deletion of their personal data if the data is no longer necessary for the purpose for which it was collected. The PDP Bill gives individuals the right to request the deletion of their personal data for a wider range of reasons, including if the data is inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading; if the data is collected or processed in violation of the law; or if the individual withdraws their consent.

Organizations in the healthcare sector in India are subject to additional data protection requirements under the SPDI Rules. These rules require organizations to implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect SPDI, obtain explicit consent from individuals before collecting or processing their SPDI, provide individuals with access to their SPDI, rectify or delete SPDI if it is inaccurate or incomplete, and report data breaches to the relevant authorities within 72 hours.

Yes, there are specific regulations for data protection in the banking and financial sector in India. The Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (BR Act) and the Information Technology (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011 (SPDI Rules) both impose additional data protection requirements on banks and financial institutions.