Srikrishna committee trying for consensus on data localisation

The extent to which localisation should be mandated for storing data has divided members of the B N Srikrishna-led panel on the issue of data protection. It is likely to meet at least a couple of times more to arrive at a consensus. 

“All committee members have to go through each aspect. The report is likely to come in July,” said a source. 

The latest meet, on June 17, had some members saying they wanted a more open eco-system, instead of asking all data to be stored in the country.

 

Regarding setting up of servers in the country, a source said nothing could be said at the moment. “Certain areas require different kinds of protection like critical and sensitive data. There are various methods to protect these. One method is that there should be a proper law. Whether such data should remain in India or could be kept anywhere else or both have to be deliberated upon,” the source said.

The panel is also studying models adopted by other countries — America, Australia and the European Union. The committee feels many of these countries have done significant work. “We are at a critical stage. We have to protect our data but we also have to develop. Many of the countries which have rules regarding data protection are already developed but we have to take full advantage of digital technology,” another source said.

He added there should be a balance to ensure people’s data is protected while not hindering digital innovation. 

The panel feels data protection law would have to deal with many aspects, mobile applications being one. “There are some fundamental principles of data protection like collection limitation, purpose limitation and use limitation. How much data should be collected and for how long should it be used and where it will be stored are some of the broad principles to be addressed,” a source said.