The Chairperson of the Competition Commission, along with its members, provided detailed insights on their discussions with officials from MeitY regarding the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, as well as issues related to digital markets and competition.

This meeting occurs amid ongoing disagreements between the competition authority and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) concerning certain aspects of the long-awaited proposed Digital Competition Law.

In a statement, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) emphasized the significance of a consultative regulatory approach between the regulator and MeitY "to ensure alignment between data governance and competition principles given the technological advancements."

Participating in the meeting were CCI Chairperson Ravneet Kaur, various members and officials from the regulator, MeitY Secretary S Krishnan, and other officials from the ministry.

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They discussed "issues regarding the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act), as well as other topics such as the interaction with competition law."

"The discussions underscored the shared dedication of CCI and MeitY to foster a transparent, competitive, and innovation-driven digital ecosystem while protecting the interests of both consumers and businesses".

 

The CCI Chairperson reaffirmed the regulator's willingness to collaborate closely with MeitY on mutually beneficial areas, observing that constructive dialogue and regulatory coordination will enhance trust, innovation, and resilience within India's digital economy.

During the discussion, the rapid expansion of the digital sector alongside the emerging challenges related to data protection, competition, and consumer welfare were also key points of focus.

Presentations were given regarding the provisions of the DPDP Act, the Competition Act of 2002, and the CCI's efforts in digital markets.

"The meeting concluded with a commitment to ongoing interactions and consultations to tackle evolving challenges and support India's aspiration for a secure, competitive, and digitally empowered economy," according to reports.

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In the context of digital economies, the CCI highlighted that data acts as a crucial resource that propels innovation, efficiency, and value generation across various sectors. "However, the centrality of data also raises concerns regarding competition and privacy," the group says.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has opted to perform market studies to examine different facets of the proposed digital competition law.

In March 2024, the draft Digital Competition Bill was uploaded to the MCA's website for public consultations. Feedback was collected from over 100 stakeholders, including legal experts, industry groups, civil society organizations, and both domestic and international digital service providers operating in India.

"Based on the suggestions/comments/inputs received, it has been determined that an evidence-based foundation through market studies is essential to address all pertinent aspects for ex-ante regulation, considering that it is still in the early stages of implementation," Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Harsh Malhotra conveyed in a written response to the Lok Sabha on August 19.