New Delhi, October 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday asserted that the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, fully safeguards journalistic freedom and contains no provision that undermines the media’s ability to report freely.
His remarks came after the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) challenged the law in the Supreme Court, arguing that the absence of a specific exemption for journalism could hinder news gathering, weaken investigative reporting and affect citizens’ right to information.
“There is not even an intention to affect freedom. The privacy law absolutely maintains freedom. It has been enacted as a consequence of the Supreme Court judgment that recognised privacy as a fundamental right,” Vaishnaw said.
The Minister maintained that the legislation was drafted in accordance with the Supreme Court’s ruling recognising privacy as a fundamental right and was preceded by an extensive public consultation process.
“The consultation process continued for a month and the industry was part of it. Nowhere does the law infringe upon journalistic freedom,” he said.
Addressing concerns raised by media organisations, Vaishnaw clarified that the law neither requires journalists to obtain permission from individuals before reporting on them nor compels reporters to disclose their sources.
“There is no provision requiring a reporter to take clearance from a person who is the subject of a story. There is also no clause that compels disclosure of the source of a story,” he said.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court sought the Centre’s response to a petition filed by the DNPA, which represents 21 leading news organisations.
The association has argued that the absence of a specific exemption for journalistic activities under the DPDP Act could adversely affect investigative journalism and public-interest reporting.
The DPDP Act, passed by Parliament in August 2023, is India’s first comprehensive legislation governing the protection of digital personal data. It provides for the processing of personal data with an individual’s consent or under certain “legitimate uses” specified in Section 7 of the Act.
The legal challenge has brought the balance between personal data protection and the media’s role in gathering and publishing information into focus, with the Centre maintaining that the legislation does not restrict journalistic freedom.
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