HOW THE DPDP RULES 2025 BRING ORDER TO ONLINE INDIA

In the world of technology, the internet and digital devices surrounding us, handing over our data has often felt a bit like throwing a message in a bottle into the Samudra.

- KHUSHBU JAIN

Once it's out, who knows who'll read it? Or rather, it's not even us throwing the bottle anymore; information just flows, often without us noticing. Whether it's checking cricket scores, giggling at Instagram Reels or ordering samosas (or sushi!) on an app, we're constantly sharing little pieces of ourselves: our names, preferences, midnight snack habits and even our most awkward search histories.

But have you ever paused and wondered, “Who’s watching?” “Who's using my info?” and “Can somebody misuse all this data?”

Leaky apps, sneaky websites and big tech giants could use, sell or lose your data. The constant spam calls or seeing that same shoe ad follow you around the internet for weeks is something nearly all of us relate to and let’s be honest, we find it pretty troubling. Yes, most of it is due to data misuse.

Recognising these risks, the Supreme Court declared privacy a fundamental right way back in 2017. The message was clear: India’s 1.4 billion people deserve data dignity. And that set the stage for the birth of India’s very own Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 and the finely detailed Rules of 2025, bringing a much-needed safety net to our evermore connected lives.

WHAT DO THE DPDP ACT 2023 AND DPDP RULES 2025 ACTUALLY MEAN?