Statement by India under Agenda Item 3 : Interactive Dialogue on OHCHR Report on the “Right to privacy in the digital age” at the 51st Session of Human Rights Council (12 September - 7 October 2022) delivered by Mr. S. Senthil Kumar, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India, Geneva (16 September 2022)
Mr. Vice-President,
We take note of the OHCHR’s report.
Privacy is a core element of an individual’s life. India fully recognizes and respects the right of privacy, including ‘informational privacy’ as an essential element of the right to life, guaranteed as a fundamental right under our constitution.
2.The Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Information Technology Rules amended in 2021 provide safeguards for sensitive personal data or information collected. The Rules mandate that body corporate including social media platforms must provide policy for privacy and disclosure of such information. The Act also provides for compensation to be paid to the affected users for failure to protect sensitive personal information causing wrongful gain or wrongful loss to any person.
Mr. Vice-President,
3.India is committed to inclusive use of digital technologies for achieving our goal of inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development, leading to digital transformation of India. We are actively working towards bringing a set of new legislation for a comprehensive legal framework for the digital economy.
4.We believe that the design, development, governance and use of digital technologies should be shaped by democratic values and respect for universal human rights. We are committed to development and use of digital and other emerging technologies that yield tangible benefits for society, developed through a multi-stakeholder approach that is adaptive, dynamic, and aligns with universal values, including respect for freedom of expression and privacy.
I thank you.
