Justice K.S.Puttaswamy(Retd) vs Union Of India on 26 September, 2018
specific measures to safeguard the fundamental rights and the interests of the data subject.
168) The Regulation also institutes rights of the data subject (the person whose data is collected),
subject to exceptions, which include the data subjects right of access to information about the
purpose of collection of data, details of data controller and subsequent use and transfer of data, the
data subjects right to rectification of data, right to erasure or right to be forgotten, the data subjects
right to restriction of processing, the right to be informed, the right to data portability and the data
subjects right to object to illegitimate use of data.
(b) Biometric Privacy Act in the United States of America
169) Some States in the United States of America have laws regulating collection and use of
biometric information. Illinois has passed Biometric Information Privacy Act (740 ILCS 14/1 or
BIPA) in 2008. Texas has also codified the law for capture of use of biometric identifier (Tex. Bus. &
Com. Code Ann. §503.001) in 2009. The Governor of the Washington State signed into law House
Bill 1493 (H.B. 1493) on May 16, 2017, which sets forth requirements for businesses who collect and
use biometric identifiers for commercial purposes. BIPA, Illinois, for example makes it unlawful for
private entities to collect, store, or use biometric information, such as retina/iris scans, voice scans,
face scans, or fingerprints, without first obtaining individual consent for such activities. BIPA also
requires that covered entities take specific precautions to secure the information.
(b) Case Laws:
170) In K.S. Puttaswamys judgment, all the Judges highlighted the importance of informational
privacy in the age of easy access, transfer, storage and mining of data. The means of aggregation and
analysis of data of individuals through various tools are explained. Chandrachud, J. observed that
with the increasing ubiquity of electronic devices, information can be accessed, stored and
disseminated without notice to the individual. Metadata and data mining make the individuals
personal information subject to private companies and the state. In this background, His Lordship
discusses the necessity of a data protection regime for safeguarding privacy and protecting the
autonomy of the individual. The following observations in the conclusion of the judgment are worth
quoting: 328. Informational privacy is a facet of the right to privacy.
The dangers to privacy in an age of information can originate not only from the state but from
non-state actors as well. We commend to the Union Government the need to examine and put into
place a robust regime for data protection. The creation of such a regime requires a careful and
sensitive balance between individual interests and legitimate concerns of the state. The legitimate
aims of the state would include for instance protecting national security, preventing and
investigating crime, encouraging innovation and the spread of knowledge, and preventing the
dissipation of social welfare benefits. These are matters of policy to be considered by the Union
government while designing a carefully structured regime for the protection of the data. Since the
Union government has informed the Court that it has constituted a Committee chaired by Honble
Shri Justice B N Srikrishna, former Judge of this Court, for that purpose, the matter shall be dealt
with appropriately by the Union government having due regard to what has been set out in this
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