In India we have a growing population of 480 million + internet users, each of us while using the internet share little bits of information about ourselves, which is often collected, stored and processed. As we begin to use the internet more and more, the amount of data about us that is collected increases exponentially. This aggregation of data demands that a framework be put in place to ensure that data is not misused or used without your permission.

The Personal Data Protection Bill is India’s first comprehensive legislation that addresses how your data can be collected and used. It aims to set out certain norms that build trust and protect you from your data being misused. We often hear that data is the new oil, so is this Bill strong enough to protect the personal data you share? And how does it impact businesses?

Antaraa Vasudev is the Founder of Civic Innovation Foundation, an early stage non-profit that is building ‘Civis‘ – India’s first portal that enables citizens to understand legislation and empowers them to share their feedback on laws and policy documents in real time. She started her career at Niti Digital and Bennett Coleman and Co. Ltd. (Times Group), before moving on to handling policy related public education programmes at the international non-profit Asia Society. She is driven to further citizen’s engagement in India and optimise governance through technology.

Preena Salgia is a lawyer specializing in arbitration and commercial litigation. She graduated from the National Law Institute University, Bhopal and soon after started her career with Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, India’s premier law firm. She is presently working with a boutique litigation firm in Mumbai – Doijode Associates. Preena has worked on a variety of matters relating to laws of companies, contracts, intellectual property rights, etc. primarily before the Bombay High Court and international and domestic arbitral tribunals. Her interest in public policy brought her to volunteer with Civis. Besides, Preena is also a singer and a fitness enthusiast.