Our Special Correspondent Aug 27, 2018 00:00 IST
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Abhishek Singhvi. File picture
New Delhi: The Congress has demanded the withdrawal of the DNA regulation bill from the Lok Sabha claiming it violates the right to privacy, and accused the government of attempting a "360-degree profiling" of citizens.
Spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi claimed the bill, which he alleged was introduced surreptitiously, reflected the government's "Big Brother Syndrome" and its efforts to "snoop into the living rooms of ordinary people".
The bill allows the collection and storage of genetic information of people "in conflict with the law" to help solve crimes, convict criminals, identify missing people and unclaimed bodies, and determine biological ties.
The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill 2018 mandates accreditation and regulation of DNA labs to ensure their test results are reliable and the data are not misused.
Singhvi said the bill proposed to not only collect "intrusive" DNA data but also record gender and caste, which he said were sensitive from a sociological aspect.
He claimed the bill violated the apex court's right to privacy judgment and "needs to be redrafted and tested against the judgment".
Singhvi accused the government of failing to hold even a single consultation with the stakeholders and civil society at large. He demanded ample safeguards against any data breach.
"This huge DNA laboratory to collect DNA (data)... how is it safeguarded in the laboratory? No provision has been made to safeguard, protect it. There is also no provision in the bill (saying) how long the government would get to store this sensitive data," he said.
Singhvi said the government's intention was reflected in the "hush-hush manner" in which it introduced the bill during the recent monsoon session.
"Fearing a backlash from a united Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, the (Narendra) Modi government decided to withdraw the bill after listing it for business in the House. The bill was then notified for business in the Lok Sabha late at night on August 8 and was introduced on August 9."
Singhvi demanded the government first introduce a data protection law encompassing issues relating to all sectors and ministries before pushing the DNA bill.