Data privacy matters in today's digital world

It has become critical for organizations to establish a strong data governance framework for a strategic advantage

- Pritam Shah

INDIA'S FAST-GROWING digital economy coupled with the country's internet user base is expected to exceed 900 million this year, making the protection of data privacy a societal imperative.

Let's take a look at some of the related statistics. A Survey Report 2024 was released recently by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Protiviti, on the preparedness of Indian industries for data privacy and the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act. The survey was conducted across various industries. Key findings from the survey revealed that over 60% of companies are engaged in practices that raise data privacy concerns, 52% have experienced a data breach in the past five years, and only 39% of larger organizations have a dedicated Data Privacy Office.

Another recent survey by PwC administered To 3,233 consumers across 24 cities and 186 organizations across India reveals that only 16% of consumers are aware of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act. The survey also states that 56% of consumers are not aware of their rights related to personal data and 69% of consumers are not aware of their rights to take back their consent. Whenever a minor's personal data is involved, 72% of respondents are not aware that handling a minor's personal data requires a parent/guardian's consent.

Data privacy – a top priority