Experts fear the new rules may lead to widespread gathering of personal information by social media platforms in the absence of an online privacy law. The data minimization principle advocates that only those user data should be collected and processed that are adequate and necessary for that purpose. Social media platforms, in particular, collect data to serve customized and targeted advertising. However, user data also has the potential to be used to mould public opinion or disrupt public order. Supreme Court lawyer Virag Gupta said the government needs to notify the data protection law as mandated by a nine-judge Supreme Court ruling.

Source: Mint February 26, 2021 13:22 UTC