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Govt Proposes Rs 250 Cr Fine for Consumer Data Leaks

The Indian government has proposed a fine of up to Rs 250 crore on enterprises found guilty of disclosing customer data, which is a significant step toward bolstering data protection procedures. This action is a component of the Data Protection Bill, which seeks to protect sensitive personal data about individuals and improve corporate accountability for handling such data. The bill's recent introduction into Parliament represents a turning point in India's effort to strengthen data security.

As per the bill, businesses and entities handling consumer data will be held liable for severe penalties if they fail to maintain the necessary safeguards to protect this information. The proposed fines are among the most substantial globally, reflecting the government's commitment to ensuring the privacy and security of its citizens' data.

According to the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, this step is crucial to "create a robust mechanism to protect the data rights and privacy of individuals." The increasing digitization of services and the rise in cybercrimes have underscored the urgency of enacting comprehensive data protection legislation.

Industry analysts predict that the proposed sanctions would motivate companies to prioritize data security and make significant investments in cybersecurity. They think that the potential financial repercussions will encourage businesses to embrace cutting-edge frameworks and technologies to stop data breaches.

The Data Protection Bill is the result of intensive talks with several stakeholders, including business representatives, academics, and civil society organizations. In addition to focusing on sanctions, it also seeks to create a Data Privacy Authority (DPA) tasked with monitoring and upholding data privacy laws. The DPA will be crucial in assuring compliance and enforcing any infractions.

Both supporters and opponents of the bill have drawn attention as it moves through Parliament. While supporters applaud the government's efforts to protect personal information, some detractors contend that small firms may be disproportionately affected by the sanctions. Legislators continue to struggle with finding a balance between the protection of personal information and corporate convenience.

Data security has grown to be of utmost importance in a world where it is frequently referred to as the new oil. The government of India has made it clear that it intends to develop a solid framework for data protection, aligning the country with international trends in protecting digital privacy, through the planned fines. As the bill advances, its effects on both consumers and corporations will likely change how data management and privacy are viewed in India.



Following a Surge in Metaverse Crimes, Interpol Promises to Implement Punishment


Real-world criminals are now attempting to conduct malicious practices in the virtual world, but this time they may as well face its repercussions. In order to assure the same, the International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO) is on its way to developing techniques that could identify authority crimes in the Metaverse to combat cyber-attacks and criminals lurking in the digital world. 

According to Secretary General Jurgen Stock, the objective of Interpol is to monitor criminal activities across the metaverse. The “sophisticated and professional” criminals are opting for advanced technological tools and tactics to commit crimes, which has to stop for the sake of online users. 

As the number of people using the metaverse rises, more crimes including data theft, money laundering, crimes against children, financial fraud, ransomware, phishing, etc. could occur. 

Stock believed that it was essential for Interpol to remain relevant and implement new technology as they were developed. He stressed the importance of Interpol's response to the problem, emphasizing how rapidly criminals are adopting new technologies for their illicit activities. 

He also noted that the company’s authorities run short of necessary resources at times, in order to carry out their jobs effectively. They have seen firsthand how if action is delayed, trust in the agency's resources and, consequently, the metaverse, may as well be tarnished. Such services are currently available, and criminals are already using them. 

What does Interpol Consider Crime in Metaverse? 

Interpol's virtual reality (VR) realm offers law enforcement a glimpse into the metaverse and a preview of the kinds of crimes that might be committed there through its secured servers. This further gives law enforcement personnel an opportunity to learn about the challenges of policing in the metaverse and test out potential solutions. 

However, Interpol’s Executive Director of Technology and Innovation Madan Oberoi notes that the firm is having trouble defining what constitutes a crime in the metaverse and spreading awareness of such crimes. “There are crimes where I don’t know whether it can still be called a crime or not. If you look at the definitions of these crimes in physical space, and you try to apply it in the metaverse, there is a difficulty,” he says. 

Moreover, the organization also asserts that one of its main tasks is informing the public about these issues. According to Oberoi, law enforcement agencies must make sure to educate themselves about the metaverse in order to effectively assist victims or potential victim users of crimes pertaining to the metaverse. 

In order to efficiently combat cybercrime, one of the best solutions Interpol may implement is to deal with regulating criminal acts in the metaverse and encourage law enforcement agencies to keep up with the technology's rapid advancement. Interpol promises to be in full force in assisting with criminal investigations and crime-solving. Interpol and its 195 member nations will cooperate to combat global cybercrime.   

Social Media Giants Seek Futher Extension in Deadline to Comply with Government Rules

 

Social media companies such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and WhatsApp will lose their status as ‘intermediaries” that granted them legal protection for the user content posted on their platforms.

Till 26th May 2021, they were enjoying the legal immunity offered by Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2001. They were only obligated for taking down any illegal content that they noticed on their own, or when it was highlighted to them by the state, or the courts, or any responsible/aggrieved party. Now it’s a civil and criminal liability on them for any illegal post, be it in words, or a picture or a video.

Nobody in the information transmission business enjoys such immunities from legal claims of defamation, etc. For example, while newspapers and broadcasters have always operated under the threat of legal liability for defamation and other speech related offences, intermediaries have escaped liability despite behaving as publishers because of the immunity offered by Section 79. 

As soon as these laws came into force from 26th May, the companies were unnerved and requested for further extension to implement the norms. Some of these platforms requested for more time up to six months for furnishing compliance and some social media firms (user base of 50 lakhs and above) stated that they will wait for further instructions from their company headquarters in the USA. 

“They do business in India, earn good revenues, but grievance redressal will have to await instructions from the US. Some platforms, such as Twitter, keep their own fact-checkers whose names (are) neither made public nor is there any transparency as to how they are selected and what is their standing,” security analyst stated.

“Though they claim the protection of being an intermediary, they exercise their discretion to also modify and adjudicate upon the content through their own norms without any reference to Indian Constitution and laws. One can appreciate fake posts or a post injuring the dignity of women or promoting terrorism etc., but to be judgmental on free expression of views by coloring them by a self-appointed norm is something that travel beyond the mandate of exemption, which they are doing,” security expert added.