The government has decided not to make any changes to the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act), despite concerns raised by journalists and civil rights groups. Official sources said Parliament has already passed the law, so the government cannot make amendments at this stage.Instead, the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) plans to issue a detailed FAQ soon to clarify common questions.
Journalists and Activists Raise Concerns
On Wednesday, journalists’ associations and civil rights organisations warned that some provisions in the DPDP Act could weaken the Right to Information (RTI) Act and threaten press freedom. They believe the law could allow government bodies to withhold information by labelling it as “personal,” even if it is in the public interest.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh called the removal of certain RTI provisions “unwarranted” and urged IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to review the decision. Vaishnaw, however, assured that personal details already available under various laws will continue to be shared under RTI, even after the new rules take effect.
Criticism Over Lack of Journalist Protections
Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan, along with former High Court Justice A.P. Shah, argued that the new law replaces a narrow exemption in the RTI Act with a much broader one, removing the “public interest” safeguard. Activists say this change will make it harder for journalists and whistleblowers to expose corruption.
Anjali Bharadwaj of the National Campaign for People’s Right to Information (NCPRI) said the Act will stop people from getting important details such as project contractor names, progress of government files, or verification of welfare scheme beneficiaries. She also criticised the government’s complete control over the Data Protection Board, which can impose penalties of up to ₹500 crore.
Press Bodies Demand Amendment
The Press Club of India and other journalist groups have submitted a memorandum signed by over 1,000 journalists to the IT ministry. They want the government to reinstate a clause from earlier drafts that exempted journalistic work from certain provisions of the Act. Vice president Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty said journalists will not back down from their demand and hope the ministry will listen before they resort to protests or legal action.
Government’s Position
Government sources said they prepared the DPDP Act and its draft rules after receiving thousands of suggestions from citizens and organisations. They are still reviewing the draft DPDP Rules, 2025, which have received 6,915 pieces of feedback. While civil rights groups fear the Act could be used to target media selectively, the government says the FAQs will clarify the law’s scope and address confusion.
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