Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw States DPDP Act Does Not Infringe Press Freedom; Centre Open to Amendments

Union Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated on Wednesday that the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act does not infringe upon press freedom, asserting that journalistic independence is guaranteed by the Constitution of India.

Speaking at a press conference at the National Media Centre in New Delhi, Vaishnaw maintained that the privacy law fully maintains journalistic freedom and that there is no intention to affect it. He noted that the legislation was framed following a Supreme Court judgment recognising the right to privacy as a fundamental right, and after more than a year of consultations involving newspapers, television channels, media representatives, the information technology industry, and other stakeholders.

The minister's remarks come amidst a legal challenge by news publishers over the law's potential impact on reporting. Publishers have raised concerns that the absence of an explicit exemption for journalistic activities could constrain investigative reporting, particularly when reporting on matters of public interest that involve personal information collected without the subject's consent.

Media organisations have argued that requirements governing notice, consent, and the processing of digital personal data—as well as rules regarding data erasure and the protection of confidential sources—could complicate investigative work and the retention of information relevant to public-interest journalism.

In response to these concerns, Vaishnaw invited editors and media professionals to engage in an open dialogue with the government to discuss the legislation. Additionally, government sources indicated that the Centre would be open to amending the law to explicitly safeguard journalistic activity if required.

A top source stated that if hardcoding an explicit exemption into the law is necessary to clear confusion, the government is willing to pursue a legislative amendment, emphasising that the administration's intent is clear and the matter can be resolved through discussion.

"The dialogue between the government and media publishers regarding the DPDP Act highlights the critical balance between individual data privacy and the operational freedom required for investigative journalism. When new compliance frameworks intersect with industries like media and digital publishing, regulatory clarity becomes paramount. The government's openness to considering legislative amendments demonstrates a constructive approach to addressing stakeholder concerns and resolving ambiguities around data processing obligations." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes