Nasscom Maintains Neutral Stance on India Joining Global Cross Border Privacy Rules Forum

India’s leading tech industry association, Nasscom, has taken a neutral position on whether the country should join the global Cross Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) forum. As India’s data protection landscape evolves, the industry is weighing the pros and cons of aligning with international privacy frameworks.

 

Key Highlights:

 

No Strong Endorsement or Opposition: Nasscom has not publicly advocated for or against India’s participation in the CBPR forum. Instead, the association is focusing on analyzing how CBPR and related frameworks might complement India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) and support secure cross-border data flows.

 

Industry Concerns Over Restrictions: Nasscom has previously raised concerns about restrictions on cross-border data transfers in India’s draft data protection rules, warning that such limits could discourage investment, raise compliance costs, and impact the global competitiveness of Indian IT and digital businesses.

 

Ongoing Evaluation: The association is engaging in ongoing dialogue with industry stakeholders, the government, and international forums to assess whether joining the CBPR would benefit India’s digital economy or create new regulatory challenges.

 

Focus on Flexibility and Safeguards: Nasscom has recommended that any cross-border data transfer regime should allow flexibility for businesses, with appropriate safeguards rather than blanket restrictions. The goal is to ensure that India’s data protection rules support innovation and international business while maintaining user privacy.

 

Awaiting Government Decision: Ultimately, the decision to join the CBPR forum rests with policymakers. Nasscom’s current position is to provide input and analysis rather than a definitive recommendation, reflecting the complexity of balancing global standards with India’s unique regulatory needs.

 

Source: Moneycontrol, Nasscom Community, Global CBPR Forum