Trai's data privacy recommendations 'timely and valuable': Telecom Secy

Terming Trai's recent recommendations on data privacy and ownership as "timely and valuable", a top official on Wednesday said the Telecom Department will consider all suggestions related to the telecom sector while others will be looked into by Justice Srikrishna panel that is crafting the overarching data protection law.

The recommendations are in tune with the government's existing stance on protecting privacy and data rights of individuals, Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said on the sidelines of a seminar titled Empowering India digitally enhancing broadband quality and enabling consumer choice', organised by CUTS International.

Asked about the Telecom Department's next move with regard to the recent recommendations of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on data privacy, Sundararajan noted that the regulator's views pertained both to the telecom sector and entire digital ecosystem.

"There are two types of recommendations, one which pertains to telecom sector where primary responsibility is on the Telecom Department...so those recommendations we will be considered within the Department. The general recommendation that Trai has given... on entire digital system...will be looked into by the Justice BN Srikrishna committee," she said.