Bundled Consent At Digital Platforms To Be Barred Under Stricter Data Rules Planned

New Delhi, Jun 10 (KNN) The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is planning to do away with the practice of “bundled consent” in India, under the upcoming rules of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act.

This means that digital platforms such as social media companies and online service providers will no longer be allowed to collect a single, blanket approval from users for multiple data uses.

Instead, users must be given the choice to consent separately for each specific purpose, such as personalisation or targeted advertising.

The aim is to bring more transparency to data collection and usage practices and ensure that users have better control over their personal information.

According to sources, the new framework will require that consent management systems clearly distinguish between mandatory and optional data uses.

This change will not only allow users to make more informed decisions but will also help data fiduciaries (companies collecting data) clearly define and adhere to the purpose for which data is collected.

The initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance user privacy and reduce ambiguity in how user data is handled by digital platforms.

Additionally, the government is expected to introduce stricter rules around cookies and online tracking tools. These measures will likely include limits on tracking duration, specific purposes of tracking, and retention periods for collected data.

Such steps are intended to reinforce privacy protections and make digital service providers more accountable for their data practices.

The final administrative rules under the DPDP Act are expected to be released soon, and they will outline compliance guidelines and enforcement mechanisms.

Companies operating in India’s digital ecosystem will be required to update their systems and practices to comply with the new standards.

Overall, this move signals India’s strong push towards a more privacy-focused digital environment.

(KNN Bureau)