Data localisation clause may hurt trade pacts between European Union and India, says Ralf Sauer

NEW DELHI: Even as India’s efforts to frame a comprehensive data protection bill is being appreciated, officials of the European Union are concerned over the element of data localisation that is expected in the legislation which is currently at the draft stage. In an interview to ET, a top EU official, who is currently visiting India, signalled that it could not just hurt businesses operating in the country but also the trade pacts being negotiated by the two countries.

Ralf Sauer, deputy head of unit – International Data Flows and Protection (Directorate – General for Justice and Consumers), European commission, said that the data protection bill and the clauses over data localisation were discussed during meetings with the ministry of external affairs and ministry of electronics and IT over the last two days. Read more here.