Madras HC halts DMK’s OTP membership drive over Data privacy
The Madras High Court has indeed issued an interim injunction, restricting the DMK from using One-Time Password (OTP) verification messages for its Oraniyil Tamil Nadu enrollment drive.
This decision stems from significant concerns raised regarding data privacy and protection, and the court has specifically sought details on the DMK’s data privacy policy.
The court emphasized that digital membership drives by political parties are a new area and raise serious questions about the right to privacy and data protection for individuals.
The judges highlighted the absence of accountability and transparency in the data collected from individuals across the state.
They stated that clarity is required regarding the means and infrastructure adopted by political parties to collect, process, and store public data, as well as the implications on the right to privacy, including the right to privacy of political affiliation.
The court stressed that valid and free consent is an essential part of such membership programs, and no force or coercion should be employed.
he DMK has been directed to provide comprehensive details on the data privacy policy used in this membership campaign. This includes ensuring the security of the collected data and demonstrating that “informed consent” is obtained from individuals.