This report presents an expansive study on regulatory endorsements of Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (PETs) within India and across ten diverse global jurisdictions. The research focuses on five categories of PETs, namely, Cryptography-Based PETs, Obfuscation Technologies, Statistical Technologies, Systems-Based and Accountability Solutions, and a Miscellaneous Category. Synthesising cross-sectoral and cross-jurisdictional regulatory insights, we depict the categories of PETs that make a recurring mention in Indian legal and regulatory frameworks.

Through this techno-legal enquiry, we drive home the point that PETs achieve the two-pronged objective of establishing consumer trust, as well as complying with legal mandates. Lastly, this report proposes leveraging PETs through a Data Governance Platform, which paves the way for seamless legal and regulatory compliance, especially in the context of India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.