There’s been a lot of noise around the DPDP framework lately. Most businesses assumed they had time. Some assumed their existing privacy policy was enough.
Now the Data Protection Board has made one thing very clear:
Consent cannot be casual anymore.
If your company collects customer data — even basic details like name, email, or phone number — this affects you.
Let’s talk about what this really means in practical terms.
First, “By Using This Website…” Is Not Enough
Many businesses still rely on generic lines like:
“By continuing to use our services, you agree to our privacy policy.”
That approach is risky now.
Consent has to be clear. It has to relate to a specific purpose. And most importantly, the customer should actively choose it.
If your consent is hidden inside long legal paragraphs, it probably needs fixing.
This isn’t about rewriting everything overnight. It’s about making sure people genuinely understand what they are agreeing to.
Bundled Consent Is a Problem
Here’s a common setup:
A customer signs up for your service.
There’s one checkbox that covers:
- Using the product
- Receiving marketing emails
- Sharing data with partners
That’s bundled consent. And the Board’s clarification suggests that this won’t hold up well.
Customers should be able to say:
“Yes, I want the service.”
“No, I don’t want marketing emails.”
If everything is tied together, it can be challenged.
Withdrawal Has to Be Simple
Consent is not permanent ownership of someone’s data.
If someone wants to withdraw permission, they should not have to:
- Send three emails
- Fill out a complicated form
- Call customer support repeatedly
If unsubscribing is easy but deleting data is hard, that’s a red flag.
Think about how easy it is to subscribe. Withdrawal should not be harder.
Language Matters More Than You Think
A privacy notice filled with legal terminology might look impressive. It doesn’t mean it’s compliant.
If an average person cannot understand:
- Why you are collecting data
- How long you will keep it
- Who you will share it with
Then the consent is questionable.
This is where many companies slip — not because they intended to misuse data, but because they overcomplicated the explanation.
Clarity beats complexity.
Can You Prove Consent?
This is where things get practical.
If tomorrow there’s a complaint, can you show:
- When the person gave consent?
- What version of the notice they saw?
- Whether they later withdrew it?
If your system doesn’t track this properly, that’s a bigger risk than most founders realise.
It’s not about fear. It’s about documentation.
Why This Matters Beyond Penalties
Yes, there are financial penalties in the law. That part gets attention.
But the bigger issue is trust.
Customers are becoming more aware. Investors are asking tougher questions. Enterprise clients now routinely check data handling practices before signing contracts.
Clear consent isn’t just compliance. It’s positioning.
So What Should You Do Right Now?
Don’t panic. But don’t ignore it either.
Start with this:
- Review every place you collect data
- Separate service consent from marketing consent
- Simplify your privacy language
- Make withdrawal straightforward
- Ensure your backend stores proof of consent
You don’t need a massive legal overhaul. You need alignment.
Final Thought
For years, consent was treated like a formality — something to “tick and move on.”
That phase is ending.
The clarification from the Data Protection Board signals something important:
Regulators are paying attention to how consent is designed, not just whether a privacy policy exists.
If your systems are transparent and structured properly, you’ll be fine.
If consent is buried and assumed, it’s time to fix it.
Better to adjust now than explain later.