India House Passes Bill to Ease Big Tech Data Compliance

• The lower house of India’s parliament voted in favor of a bill that would ease data compliance regulations for Big Tech companies on Aug. 7.
• The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023 would reduce storage, processing and transfer standards for major global tech companies like Google, Meta and Microsoft.
• Concerns over data misuse in the emerging tech industry are growing due to the rapid emergence of AI tools accessible to the general public.

India Passes Bill to Ease Big Tech Data Compliance

The lower house in the parliament of India approved updates to a bill that would ease data storage, processing and transfer standards for Big Tech companies on Aug. 7.

Features of the Bill

The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023 allows companies to export data sourced from India, except countries prohibited by the government. It requires government consent prior to Big Tech companies collecting personal data as well as preventing them from selling it for reasons not listed in the contract.

Motivations Behind the Bill

India is home to billions of internet users, making it a key market for growth for international tech giants. In addition, concerns over data misuse and artificial intelligence (AI) training have been a growing priority for regulators across the globe.

Recent Developments in Emerging Tech Scene

Recently, Worldcoin launched 1,500 iris-scanning Orbs worldwide including two Orbs located in Delhi and Bangalore respectively.

Collaboration with US Administration

India is reportedly collaborating with United States President Joe Biden’s administration to create an international framework for AI.