Is your digital data really private today in 2026
The article highlights India’s Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act as a case where strong laws exist but are poorly applied, with many companies unprepared to comply and healthcare organisations especially lagging. A government directive to preload a surveillance-capable app (Sanchaar Saathi) sparked controversy by contradicting consent principles, with Apple refusing to comply due to privacy concerns.
It also shows that even encrypted messaging services protect content but not metadata—often more valuable—and that major services like WhatsApp collect and monetise this “digital DNA.” Health tracking apps have commoditised intimate biological data, leading to major privacy lawsuits. The result is a landscape in which privacy protections exist but are often buried, violated, or overridden by technology’s integration into everyday life. The article concludes that by 2026, data privacy has become non-negotiable because ignoring its implications carries severe, unavoidable consequences.
