With the aim to ensure transparency and accountability in e-commerce, to build confidence in customers’ minds, to create employment through the extension of e-commerce and to build a competitive market, the ‘Digital Commerce Policy Guide 2021’ has been approved by the Ministry of Commerce.
A set of directives has been given in the policy in using the personal data of the subscribers/customers.
In Chapter 3 of the policy guide, it has been made mandatory to clarify in e-shop websites whether any particular software or cookies has been used and to inform the customers thereby.
At the same time, if it is required to get personal information of a customer while transacting, prior permission will be taken from the customer on what are the particular information can be asked for, were to preserve the data at, what about the future use of data and how the data collected will be processed.
Apart from that, there will have a provision of a ‘check-box to confirm that, the terms and conditions regarding personal data have been checked by the customer as mentioned in the new policy guidelines. But what is the range of personal data of a customer can be asked by the digital commerce shop has not been ascertained in the new policy yet.
It is worth mentioning that the ‘Digital Commerce Policy Guide 2021’ has been framed in accordance with clause 3.3.6 of ‘National Digital Commerce (amended) Policy 2020. Ministry of Commerce has directed to enact the policy without delay.