🔆The article discusses the draft rules for implementing the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, with a focus on data localization and government access to user data. Key Points: ✅Data Localization: The draft rules mandate data localization, requiring significant data fiduciaries to store a significant portion of their data within India. This raises concerns about operational challenges and costs for tech companies. ✅Government Access to Data: Section 36 of the DPDP Act, read in conjunction with Rule 22 of the draft rules, empowers the government to demand "any" information from data fiduciaries in the interest of national security and sovereignty. Experts have raised concerns about potential misuse and surveillance. ✅Impact on End-to-End Encryption: The draft rules could potentially compel social media companies to compromise end-to-end encryption, raising concerns about user privacy and security. ✅Need for Public Consultation: The article emphasizes the need for wider public consultation and scrutiny of the draft rules by a parliamentary committee. ✅Possible UPSC Prelims Question: What is the primary concern regarding the data localization mandate in the draft DPDP rules? A. It will hinder innovation in the tech sector. B. It will increase the cost of doing business for tech companies. C. It will compromise national security. D. It will violate user privacy. ✅Possible UPSC Mains Question: Discuss the implications of the draft DPDP rules for digital rights and freedoms in India. Analyze the trade-offs between data protection, national security, and economic growth in the context of the digital economy. #gs2 #prelims #polity #polity_governance