Mumbai: Ahead of Data Privacy Day on 28 January, the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has highlighted the growing importance of data privacy, user consent, and the evolving responsibilities of digital platforms in India’s expanding digital economy.
Commenting on the occasion, Manisha Kapoor, CEO & Secretary General, ASCI, said, “The government’s notification of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) Rules 2025 marks a watershed moment for India’s digital economy. It is clear that data privacy must become a central part of how our digital ecosystem functions. Not merely as a compliance requirement, but as a commitment to consumer trust and responsible innovation.”
She added that the ASCI Academy whitepaper, ‘Navigating Cookies: Recalibrating your cookie strategy in light of the DPDPA’, developed in collaboration with PSA Legal and Tsaaro Consulting, “underscores a significant readiness gap in how many digital platforms manage user consent for cookies, a foundational element of transparency and respect for individual data rights. As emerging technologies such as AI increasingly shape advertising and content, ethical data use, clear accountability and privacy-by-design practices will be critical. This presents an opportunity for advertisers, publishers, technology platforms and policymakers to collectively elevate standards aligned with the DPDP framework and global best practices, while reflecting India’s unique digital landscape.”
Kapoor further emphasised ASCI’s commitment to consumer-centric privacy, “At ASCI, we promote consumer-centric privacy through clear, informed consent and education that empowers individuals to control their data. In this digital economy, advertisers and platforms must prioritise clear choices and respect user choice to build a trusted ecosystem. Transparent, user-centric consent is essential to meet regulatory expectations and build long-term trust, with data privacy at the core of digital advertising, not an afterthought. Advertising in India is moving towards a privacy-compliant future and there’s more focus on privacy and responsible use of data; clean-room models are no longer optional.”
This guidance from ASCI comes at a critical juncture as India’s digital ecosystem adapts to new regulatory frameworks and the increasing influence of AI-driven technologies in advertising and content delivery.
