The need to harmonise RTI law and data protection legislation
The author argues that the proposed Digital Personal Data Protection Bill threatens to severely undermine the Right to Information Act by broadly excluding personal information from disclosure. This legislative shift prioritizes privacy in a manner that grants officials immunity, effectively stripping RTI of its power to ensure transparency and accountability in government operations. The core concern is that protecting privacy should not come at the cost of the public’s right to scrutinize actions impacting the general welfare. This erosion of transparency risks enabling corruption and inefficiency by limiting the tool citizens use to hold power to account. The article highlights that while a small minority of applicants may misuse RTI for extortion, the vast majority rely on it for legitimate oversight. Diluting the Act’s provisions would disproportionately affect these genuine seekers of information, weakening a critical mechanism for democratic engagement and fiscal responsibility. Relevance to open data lies in the urgent need to harmonize privacy protections with open information principles. The author advocates for leveraging data analytics and digital tools to streamline information access while protecting legitimate privacy concerns. Without careful integration, conflicting laws could hinder the availability of public data, stifling the potential for open data initiatives to drive civic engagement and administrative reform.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.comPublished on 2023-08-22
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