Tech policy groups, civil societies seek wider consultation from JPC

In an attempt to seek wider consultations on data protection policy and related issues, tech policy groups and civil societies are planning to write to Meenakshi Lekhi, the chairperson of the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) on the personal data protection bill, according to sources.

While some groups such as Software Freedom Law Centre (SFLC) India have written a letter to Lekhi urging the JPC to call them and other tech policy groups for consultations, others are likely to send in their letter over the next week.

In its letter, SFLC India has said that while social media intermediaries, fintech companies, travel aggregators had been called by the JPC for oral consultations, civil societies have not been given the chance to represent themselves and share their ideas.