Government keen on robust data protection laws: Prasad

New Delhi Aug 4 (IANS) Union Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Friday that the government is keen on robust data protection laws.

Talking to reporters here Prasad said the country should have a framework that safeguards data properly and also enables its use for growth and development.

"As India has written a lot of discourse on internet governance the world over I am very keen that India must come up with robust data protection laws that can become a beacon for the rest of the world " he said.

Prasad referred to his ministry s move this week to constitute an experts committee headed by retired Supreme Court Justice B.N. Srikrishna to suggest a draft Data Protection Bill and identify key data protection issues.

He said Aadhaar has very safe digital identity. "In that connection we are very keen that India s data protection laws become model law for developing countries " he added.

Prasad said he has flagged the issue at international fora that internet should be safe and secure for it to be inclusive.

He said internet is a fine creation of human mind and should not become monopoly of a few. "If internet has to be global it must have linkage with the local " he said adding that India s digital initiatives also talk about digital inclusion.

"These formulations are finding an echo the world over " the Minister said.

--IANS
ps/tsb/vt