Govt asks European Union to provide data secure status to India

31 May 2013 Evaluate

The government has asked the European Union (EU) to provide data secure status to India under the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA). India is demanding for a data-secure status as its current lack of status has prevented the flow of sensitive information to India, a big deal for its IT industry.

Commerce Minister Anand Sharma and EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht have discussed the current status of the India-European Union Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) negotiations. During the meeting, commerce minister stressed the need for addressing India's concerns on providing data secure status. On the other hand, EU is willing to set up a Joint Working Group which will look at all the technical aspects to ensure that India will be able to achieve necessary compliance for data security purposes.

The country’s business development has been impacted by lack of this status as it restricts transfer of personal data to locations outside EU, unless the importing country ensures adequate data protection. Meanwhile, India is arguing that since the US has a safe harbour pact with the EU, and has a data adequacy agreement with India, therefore the EU should give data adequacy status to India.   

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