Yes, the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 in India is built on the principle that individuals should have control over their personal data. However, the statement "Privacy is mine. I have not authorized anyone to handle my privacy." is only partly accurate in legal terms.
Here's how the DPDP Act works:
Your personal data belongs to you in the sense that you have rights over it.
Organizations (called Data Fiduciaries) generally need a lawful basis, often your consent, to collect, use, or share your personal data.
However, consent is not always required. The DPDP Act allows processing of personal data in certain legitimate uses, such as:
Compliance with a legal obligation.
Performance of a government function authorized by law.
Medical emergencies.
Employment-related purposes in specified circumstances.
Other situations specifically permitted under the Act.
As a Data Principal (the individual whose data is being processed), you have important rights, including:
The right to know how your data is being processed.
The right to correct and update your personal data.
The right to erase your personal data in certain circumstances.
The right to withdraw consent (where processing is based on consent).
The right to seek grievance redressal.
So, if someone says:
"I have not authorized anyone to handle my personal data."
that does not automatically mean no one can process it. If an organization has a valid legal basis under the DPDP Act, it may still process your data. Otherwise, they generally need your consent.
In short:
✅ You have a legal right to privacy and control over your personal data.
✅ Organizations cannot freely collect or use your personal data without a lawful basis.