THE ROLE OF DATA PROTECTION LAWS IN INDIAN E-COMMERCE

Abstract

The rapid expansion of e-commerce in India has revolutionized the retail sector by enabling businesses to reach a wider customer base through digital platforms. The increasing use of online shopping, digital payments, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence has resulted in the large-scale collection and processing of consumers' personal data. While these technological advancements have enhanced customer convenience and business efficiency, they have also raised significant concerns regarding data privacy, cybersecurity, identity theft, and misuse of personal information. To address these challenges, India has strengthened its legal framework through the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act), the Information Technology Act, 2000, and related regulatory guidelines. This paper examines the role of data protection laws in regulating Indian e-commerce, evaluates their impact on consumer trust and business compliance, and identifies the challenges and future directions for effective data governance in the digital economy.