Dashboard for Data Owners

 

 

Context :

Digital Personal Data Protection Bill tabled in Lok Sabha  ..  03 Aug 2023  /  Business Line

Extract :

The much-awaited Digital Personal Data Protection Bill (DPDP) was tabled in the Lok Sabha on Thursday prescribing how personal data can be collected, processed, safeguarded and prescribing penalties up to ₹250 crore in case of breaches. The bill contains wide-ranging exemptions to the government and has provisions for setting up of a regulator — the Data Protection Board — which will be appointed by the government.

The government clarified that the bill was not being presented as a “money bill”.

What the bill offers

Digital platforms will need to take unconditional, free, specific and informed consent from users for processing their data.

The “ data principal ” ( USER ? ), shall have the right to access information about personal data for which consent has been previously given.

At any point, the data principal shall have the right to :

#  Correction,

#  Completion,

#  Updating and,

#  Erasure

-      of her personal data for the processing of which she has previously given consent.”

-      This means that users have the right to withdraw consent at any point after which the platforms must stop processing their data and erase it.

For erasure of data, “the data principal shall make a request in such manner as may be prescribed to the data fiduciary for erasure of her personal data and upon receipt of such a request the data fiduciary shall erase her personal data unless retention of the same is necessary for the specific purpose or for compliance with any law…”.

Chapter V of the Bill envisages setting up of the Data Protection Board of India.

 

My  Take :

 

Dear Shri Ashwini Vaishnawji ,

 

Congratulations on introducing DPDP bill in Lok Sabha

The bill proposes to place in the hands of a DATA OWNER ( data principal ), a lot

of CONTROLS to ensure that :

#  the Data Fiduciary does not collect any data without SPECIFIC and INFORMED

    consent of a Data Owner

#  Data owner can grant - revoke consent / correct , complete, Update , Erase her

    data at any time

The Bill envisages a Data Owner to “ make a request “ to Data Fiduciary “ as may

be prescribed “

 

I request you to “ PRESCRIBE “ to Data Fiduciary,  following Dashboard , which

can be ACCESSED by any Data Owner by clicking a link ( called “ USER

 DASHBOARD “ ), which must be displayed PROMINENTLY on its website

 

Clicking on any “ Nature of Data “ ( link ) , will open up a FORM in which Data

Owner would need to submit the data

To ensure that the Data Fiduciary collects only the data which it requires to deliver

 “ SPECIFIC SERVICE “ , DATA PROTECTION BOARD must :

#  Mandate use of only that FORM ( for each “ nature “ ) which the BOARD has

    designed ( data fields )

At the bottom of each FORM , there will be clear write-up , which spells out :

Ø  How the collected data will be processed

Ø  How the collected data will be “ Used “ by Data Fiduciary ( eg : for targeted advt / selling )

Ø  In return for granting use of her data , what “ service “ will she get

This write-up will need to be APPROVED in advance by Data Protection Board . No

subsequent changes can be made in this write-up without prior permission of the

Board

 

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh

www.hemenparekh.ai  /  04  Aug  2023

 

Related Readings :

Ø  Only Answer : a Statutory Warning ………………………………………. 10 Nov 2018

 

Ø  Erasing Personal Data ? …………………………………………………………..  21  Apr  2023

 

Ø  SARAL ( Single  Authentic  Registration for Anywhere  Login )…. 10 Feb 2019 

 

Ø  Digital Dividend from Demographic Data [ 4 D ]………… ……………. 14 Feb 2019 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks Amarjeet Sinhaji : for thinking of Poor People

 

 

Context :

Govt panel suggests sharp hike in NREGS wage rates, budgetary outlay  ….  ET  … 04 Aug 2023

Extract :

A high-level government panel, tasked with recommending changes to make the rural job guarantee scheme more effective, has called for a significant increase in the extant wage rates--over and above the recent annual hike--and the budgetary allocation for the programme, persons aware of the details said.

Although the panel, headed by former rural development secretary Amarjeet Sinha, hasn’t suggested the precise quantum hike , the recommendation has put the government in a bind..

This is because rates under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme ( MGNREGS ) serve as the benchmark for farm / rural wages and significantly influence industrial wages as well

It ( panel ) wants such wages to be reassessed every five years, in addition to the ANNUAL HIKE

It has also proposed to peg ANNUAL INCREASE in the wage rate to the CONSUMER PRICE INDEX ( rural ) instead of the extant practice of linking it to the Consumer Price Index ( Agriculture Labour )

 

My  Take :

 

Ø  MGNREGA : Can it morph into UBI ? ………………………..  11 May 2020

 

Extract :

For most of the States, current daily wage rates under MGNREGA are around Rs 200 / day , after recent upward revision last month 

 

How do these compare with government mandated MINIMUM WAGES  ?

 

MGNREGA daily wages range from 67 % to 96 %  of Minimum Wages 

 

SOLUTION :

 

Ø  MGNREGA should be re-named, MGNRUGA ( Mahatma Gandhi National

    Rural Urban Employment Guarantee Act )

 

    Ø  Besides RURAL households, it should cover URBAN households as well

 

    Ø  Besides “ Unskilled Manual Work “, it must also cover “ Semi-skilled / Skilled “

       work as well

 

       The daily wages payable , must be the “ Minimum Wage “ at the start of each

       Skill level grade and periodically revised upward, depending upon CPI

    

with regards,

hemen parekh

www.hemenparekh.ai  /  04 Aug 2023

Curbing use of Smartphone ?

 

 

Context :

Chinese youth to have smartphone, internet use curbed … ET  / 03 Aug 2023

Extract :

Chinese children and teens will be cut off from accessing the internet at night and have their smartphone use curbed under new rules unveiled Wednesday aimed at fighting internet addiction.

Under the restrictions, set to come into force on September 2 following a public consultation, anyone under the age of 18 will be cut off from accessing the internet with a mobile device between 10 pm and 6 am.

A tiered system for managing smartphone usage time will also be imposed, spanning a maximum of 40 minutes a day for those under the age of eight to two hours for 16- and 17-year-olds. The new rules are some of the most stringent in the world.

Parents will be able to bypass them if they wish, however.

The CAC said the rules would "improve the positive role of the internet, create a favourable network environment, prevent and intervene in minors' internet addiction problems, and guide minors to form good internet use habits".

 

 

Related Reading :

 

Crooks blackmailing influencers using AI-made deep nudes     …  ET  / 03 Aug

 

 

First some facts about Indian teens :

“ Can you tell me the number of hours that India's teens spend on internet from their Smart-phones ? “

 

BARD gave following data >

 

Sure. According to a report by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), Indian teens spend an average of 5 hours per day on the internet from their smartphones.

This number has been steadily increasing in recent years, and is now higher than the global average of 4 hours per day.

The report also found that the most popular activities for Indian teens on the internet are social media, watching videos, and playing games.

Social media is by far the most popular activity, with 80% of Indian teens using it on a daily basis.

The report's findings suggest that smartphone usage is having a significant impact on the lives of Indian teens. It is important for parents and educators to be aware of this trend, and to help teens develop healthy habits around smartphone use.

Here are some of the potential negative effects of excessive smartphone use in teens:

·        Sleep deprivation: 

·        Studies have shown that teens who use their smartphones in bed are more likely to experience sleep problems.

·        Depression and anxiety: 

·        Excessive smartphone use can lead to feelings of isolation, loneliness, and depression.

·        Addiction: 

·        Smartphone addiction is a real problem, and it can have a serious impact on a teen's life.

If you are concerned about your teen's smartphone use, there are a few things you can do:

·        Set limits on screen time: 

·        Establish clear rules about how much time your teen can spend on their smartphone each day.

·        Encourage other activities: 

·        Encourage your teen to participate in activities that don't involve screens, such as sports, hobbies, or spending time with family and friends.

·        Be a role model: 

·        Model healthy smartphone habits yourself. Show your teen how to use their smartphone in a way that doesn't interfere with their schoolwork, sleep, or relationships.

If you are concerned that your teen may be addicted to their smartphone, there are resources available to help. You can talk to your teen's doctor, or contact a mental health professional.

My  Take :

 

Ø  Excessive use of Smartphones is a bigger problem for India than for the rest of the World

Ø  There is enough evidence that this is going to get worse

Ø  I have a feeling ( no proof ) that Indian parents are proving to be POOR “ Role Models “ for their children. Probably, they spend 8 hours per day on their Smartphones

Ø  I am afraid that , left without some fool-proof solution , this “ Smart Disease “ can debilitate our youth – much the same way as DRUGS

Ø  I am sure , VOLUNTARY REGULATION is not going to work for the majority of parents and their children , though it may work for a tiny minority

Ø  The news report ( about China ) does not say anything about the “ METHODS “ by which , the Chinese Authorities plan to “ RESTRICT “ the smartphone usage among teens. But then , Chinese Authorities do not need to worry about “ public outcry / opposition “ , nor do they consider themselves ACCOUNTABLE to public. I get a feeling that they have developed some technology which can :

   

#  Differentiate between the users of Smartphones ( Teen or Adult ) –

    may be through AI based Facial Recognition , to start phone

 

    

#  Then remotely “ SWITCH OFF “ the phones of the TEENS , at

     prescribed hours

 

 

It is a sad commentary on our Society ( anywhere / in any country ) where

DEMOCRATIC / EDUCATING methods , fail to solve SOCIETAL PROBLEMS

 

 

With regards,

 

Hemen Parekh

 

www.hemenparekh.ai  / 03 Aug 2023  

Meta falls in line : It was either Comply or Quit

 

 

 

Context :

Meta to Ask EU Users' Consent to Share Data for Targeted Ads  … VOAnews  /  01 Aug 2023

Extract :

Social media giant Meta on Tuesday said it intends to ask European Union-based users to give their consent before allowing targeted advertising on its networks including Facebook, bowing to pressure from European regulators.

It said the changes were to address "evolving and emerging regulatory requirements" amid a bruising tussle with the Irish Data Protection Commission that oversees EU data rules in Ireland, out of which Meta runs its European operations.

European regulators in January had dismissed the previous legal basis — "legitimate interest" — Meta had used to justify gathering users' personal data for targeted advertising.

Currently, users joining Facebook and Instagram by default have that permission turned on, feeding their data to Meta so it can generate billions of dollars from such ads.

"Today, we are announcing our intention to change the legal basis that we use to process certain data for behavioral advertising for people in the EU, EEA [European Economic Area] and Switzerland from 'Legitimate Interests' to 'Consent'," Meta said in a blog post.

Meta added it will share more information in the months ahead as it continues to "constructively engage" with regulators.

"There is no immediate impact to our services in the region. Once this change is in place, advertisers will still be able to run personalized advertising campaigns to reach potential customers and grow their businesses," it said.

Meta and other U.S. Big Tech companies have been hit by massive fines over their business practices in the EU in recent years and have been impacted by the need to comply with the bloc's strict data privacy regulations.

Further effects are expected from the EU's landmark Digital Markets Act, which bans anti-competitive behavior by the so-called " gatekeepers " of the internet.

 

My  Take :

 

It is only a matter of a few months before EU forces META ( and its tribe – Google – Twitter etc ) to agree to :

Ø  Move from vague “ Consent “ to  “ Informed Consent “

Ø  Move from “ Informed Consent “ to “ Specific Consent “

Ø  Move from “ Specific Consent “ to “ Compensating Consent “

To know what I mean by “ Specific Consent “ and “ Compensating Consent “ , read :

 Only Answer : a Statutory Warning  ……………………………………………[ 10 Nov 2018 ]

  SARAL ( Single  Authentic  Registration for Anywhere  Login )….[ 10 Feb 2019 ]

  Digital Dividend from Demographic Data [ 4 D ]………… …………….[ 14 Feb 2019 ]

  Privacy for Sale  ………………………………………………………………………….[ 26 Aug 2017]

  If DEPA = Foundation , then SARAL = Superstructure ………………[ 08 May 2022 ]

 

And when this inevitable “ Migration to Monetization “ of users’ Personal Data happens, each and every  user of Social Media in EU , will earn Euro 1,000 PER MONTH , from social media by way of COMPENSATION for selling their data for TARGETED ADVERTISEMENTS

What makes me believe that this will happen ?

#   My firm conviction that the Social Media companies must share a portion of

     their billions of dollars ( which  they are earning by SELLING personal data of

     their Users to Advertising Companies ) with the users

     

#   Finland has already taken the first step in implementing what I have been

     pleading with our Cabinet Ministers for past 5 YEARS , through some 111

       emails !

     

     If in doubt, read this :

Ø  Finland adopts “ SARAL “ ?  ……………. 31  May  2023

 

It makes me frustrated that the Software Superpower ( - and the 5^th largest

economy of the World ) India could not ( or , would not ? ) implement what

tiny Finland could do

 

And it makes me sad that , IT Minister Shri Vaishnawji will , tomorrow , introduce

in Lok Sabha :

IT Minister to present Digital Personal Data Protection Bill tomorrow … Ind Express  / 02 Aug 2023

 

Extract :

Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw will introduce Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill in Lok Sabha on Thursday, according to an official notification by Parliament.

The Parliamentary panel on IT has recommended that the DPDP Bill’s enactment be expedited, “without any undue delay”, as it relied on submissions made by officials of the IT Ministry, without the Bill being formally referred to it.

 

“Ashwini Vaishnaw to move for leave to introduce a Bill to provide for the processing of digital personal data in a manner that recognises both the right of individuals to protect their personal data and the need to process such data for lawful purposes and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. Also to introduce the Bill,” said the list of business uploaded by the Lok Sabha.

 

Dear Vaishnawji ,

 

It is a pity that the bill being presented by you tomorrow will :

Ø  Only protect those “ PERSONAL  DATA  THIEVES “ , who mint billions by SELLING user data

Ø  Will do nothing to to protect “ PERSONAL DATA OWNERS “

Do you really believe that :

#   A User will ever come to know that her Personal Data ( even if aggregated and

     anonymised ), got SOLD by Google – Facebook – Twitter – Amazon etc to

     advertisers - Which ? When ? Where ? For What price ?

    

#   In the “ nearly impossible event “ of this user coming to know of such SALE of

     her data, she would have the money ( $ 10 million ) and  time (10 years )

     to fight her case ( in which court ? International Court of Justice ? )

     

     

 

Dear Shri Vaishnawji ,

 

I realize that , at this late stage , you cannot make any changes in the draft of

DPDP bill

But surely, you must have heard that, nearly 81 years ago, on 9^th Aug 1942,

Mahatmaji told the British from Gowalia Tank in Mumbai :

QUIT  INDIA

 

And, unlike EU , Bapu did not even have any LAW to support his call !

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh

www.hemenparekh.ai  /  02 Aug 2023