21 Indian media organisations warn new privacy law could threaten investigative journalism

Twenty-one major media organisations in India have raised concerns over a recently introduced privacy law warning that it could undermine press freedom and make investigative journalism more difficult. They have called for the legislation to be withdrawn.

New Delhi: Twenty-one major media organisations in India have raised concerns over a recently introduced privacy law warning that it could undermine press freedom and make investigative journalism more difficult. They have called for the legislation to be withdrawn.

According to a report published by a US newspaper the organisations believe the new legal framework could restrict journalists’ ability to investigate matters of public interest and report on sensitive issues.

The Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) has strongly criticised the legislation describing it as a mechanism that could effectively silence journalism. The association has joined other media groups in demanding that the government reconsider and repeal the law.

The concerns have added to a wider debate over press freedom and the working environment for journalists in India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

The report also highlighted the arrests of 43 journalists over a period of two days presenting the incidents as evidence of what it described as an increasingly restrictive approach towards the media.

Media organisations fear that the new privacy requirements could create additional obstacles for reporters seeking information protecting confidential sources and pursuing investigations involving public institutions or influential individuals.

The opposition to the legislation reflects growing concerns among sections of India’s media industry about the balance between personal privacy and the public’s right to information. While privacy protections are intended to safeguard individuals’ personal data, journalists and publishers argue that such laws should not prevent legitimate reporting or restrict access to information necessary for public-interest investigations.

The 21 organisations have urged the authorities to withdraw the law arguing that its potential consequences for independent journalism require serious consideration.

The controversy has placed India’s privacy legislation and its possible impact on media freedom under renewed scrutiny.