The session will present findings from a study conducted to understand digital consent practices of persons with disabilities and the challenges faced by them within the Indian context. The study is undertaken to develop universal user-centric consent frameworks to ensure that persons with disabilities are "not left behind" in the cyberspace. Below is a brief description of the project. Globally, conversations around digital privacy, data protection, data-use transparency, and consent have gained momentum. Several countries have attempted to regulate these new issues that have arisen due to big data sharing to protect citizens' rights. Historically, persons with disabilities (PwDs) have been marginalized and yet again today, conversations around digital data consent and data protection have not taken into consideration this population. India, with it's new Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, has consciously included persons with disabilities rights to ensure protection of their rights in the new digital age. However, the law itself lacks clarity on the data sharing consent mechanisms for PwDs and assumes the role of the lawful guardian, wherever present, to act on behalf of the person. Such a framing of the law is limiting and can lead to challenges in implementation given the diverse needs of persons with disabilities. Therefore, Pacta and Saksham Disability, India undertook a study to 1. To understand the difficulties faced by PwDs in navigating the internet. 2. To contour the perceptions, attitudes, and experiences of PwDs in relation to consent for sharing data. 3. To make the ideas of consent, and its legal standing and implications accessible and understandable to PwDs. 4. To address the limitations of the DPDP on provisions related to PwDs. 5. To develop a user-centric consent framework for data pertaining to PwDs that can be adopted by websites and web-based applications. The study is currently underway. Our study results will help 1. understand the unique challenges faced by PwDs in using the internet, 2. what data sharing consent means to them and the challenges around digital consent, as well as 3. provide a universal user-centric consent framework for PwDs in the digital space. Not applicable since the entire session will be in-person as mentioned in the description of the session. Organizer will facilitate a way for the rapporteur to participate such that note-taking will be enabled at their end.
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