Jio denies to share any data with third party

Reliance Industries  recently attended a joint parliamentary committee on the Personal Data Protection Bill. The company confirmed that it does not have any data sharing mechanism with any third party such as Google and Facebook even though they are among the company’s investors.

The panel headed by BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi, recieved a written reply from  Ravi Gandhi, who was representing Jio Platforms on the subject of data privacy. The letter confirmed localization of  the data.

When asked that in such a scenario, why would Facebook and WhatsApp tie up with Reliance if no data exchange was envisaged, Jio representatives told the panel they would “benefit from each other’s technological know-how”.

Reliance spoke strongly in favour of data localisation in India, arguing that any data stored abroad is bound by regulation of foreign countries, officials. “The data principal [content owner] cannot have effective relief in case of a breach in foreign land,” representatives said. “Personal data should be stored in India to ensure its security, sovereignty and privacy".

Also, data stored in India leads to development of digital infrastructure in the country, they said. Besides, data residency in India will be helpful to law enforcing agencies, Reliance argued, unidentified officials say.

“Punishment provisions in the law should be according to the nature of crime committed and not the size of the company."

Google, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon and Paytm representatives have already deposed before the panel.

While, Ola, Uber and Airtel have also been called to appear before the panel on Friday.