India Debates Data Privacy Law That Gives State Sweeping Powers

Lawmakers are debating a bill that seeks to protect Indians’ online privacy, but also offers sweeping exemptions to the government to access data in the world’s fastest-growing internet market.

Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday introduced the bill and said it will be referred it to a select panel of parliamentarians. A report is likely in January, followed by more deliberations and then a vote.

India’s first attempt to regulate data generated by more than 600 million internet users has raised concerns about mass surveillance. The proposed law comes weeks after a controversy about whether Prime Minister Narendra ...