Media Bodies Demand Journalism Be Exempt from India’s New Data Law
Leading Indian media associations have jointly urged the central government to explicitly exempt journalistic work from the proposed Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act. They argue the current draft could threaten press freedoms by imposing restrictions on newsgathering, editorial autonomy, and source confidentiality.
DPDP Act Impact on Journalism
The DPDP Act seeks to regulate how personal data is collected, stored, and processed by private and public entities. However, media organisations warn that applying its requirements to journalism may inadvertently obstruct investigative reporting—especially by mandating consent for data use and exposing reporters to potential penalties.
Protecting Press Freedom
A key concern is that consent and disclosure obligations could deter whistleblowers and endanger confidential sources. Without legal clarity, journalists may hesitate to pursue stories involving sensitive information, undermining their ability to hold power to account.
Carve-Out Proposal
The letter from media bodies urges the inclusion of a clear exemption clause for journalism and related activities. They propose redefining such activities as out of scope for data regulation, ensuring that editorial decisions, source protection, and typical newsgathering processes are not subject to DPDP compliance requirements.
Safeguarding Democracy
The groups emphasise that excessive data regulation could have a chilling effect on free speech and investigative journalism. A legislative carve-out, they contend, is essential to maintaining the media’s watchdog role and preserving democratic discourse.
Moving Forward
As the DPDP Bill enters critical stages of review in Parliament, press associations call for swift amendments to ensure journalism remains unhindered. Their intervention seeks to balance the protection of personal data with the imperative of safeguarding media freedom and public interest reporting.
