On July 22, 2014, the Data Security Council of India (“DSCI”) announced that it has deemed Vodafone India Limited (“Vodafone”) a “DSCI Privacy Certified” organization. The certification, which is designed to help companies “demonstrate the privacy practices to relevant stakeholders and enhance trust,” is the first for a telecommunications company in India.

The DSCI, which acts as India’s data protection authority, presented the certification to Vodafone at its most recent DSCI Best Practices Meet earlier in July. In presenting the award, Dr. Kamlesh Bajaj, the Chief Executive Officer of DSCI, congratulated Vodafone for its achievement and noted that “[i]t is an important milestone in DSCI’s journey so far.” Vodafone’s Vice President and Chief Technology and Security Officer Burgess Cooper accepted the certification and remarked on its benefits, citing “the reduction of high-risks, better coverage of privacy issues in our contracts, improved review of new business developments, standardized processes and detailed vendor audits.”