Data protection law is a 'fundamental thing', says Nandan Nilekani

The need for the law was felt after WhatsApp changed its policy of non-sharing of data for its users

Former UIDAI Chairman Nandan Nilekani on Saturday said that India needed a data protection law "as soon as possible" as it is a "fundamental thing" so that the users can demand from the domestic or foreign companies to share their data when needed.

"This is not a technology problem, but a policy problem," Nilekani said here at the Delhi Economics Conclave 2017.

Former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi had said earlier that the government was planning to come out with a data protection policy this year.

The need for the law was felt after online messaging service WhatsApp changed its policy of non-sharing of data for its users after acquisition by Facebook in 2016 to permit sharing of the attributes of its users for advertisement targeting.