Indian media challenge Modi’s privacy law over press freedom

Indian media organisations have challenged the government’s privacy law in the Supreme Court, warning that its requirements could restrict journalism,

Indian media organisations have challenged the government’s privacy law in the Supreme Court, warning that its requirements could restrict journalism, expose confidential sources and force newsrooms to shut down.

The legal challenge began on Tuesday, with publishers arguing that the Digital Personal Data Protection Act could effectively introduce pre-censorship by requiring journalists to obtain consent from people they report on.

Madhavi Goradia Divan, representing the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA), told the court that the legislation could fundamentally change the way news is reported and published. She warned that requiring journalists to seek permission before publishing information could make independent reporting difficult and threaten the survival of newsrooms.

The case is one of the most prominent legal challenges to the privacy law introduced under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing for November.

A group of 21 publishers has challenged key provisions of the legislation, arguing that they could undermine investigative journalism and allow authorities to identify journalists’ confidential sources. The group includes major media organisations linked to business figures Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, as well as the Indian Express and Times Internet.

The publishers are seeking the removal of several contentious provisions due to take effect in May 2027. They argue that the law could compel media organisations to delete published reports and allow the government to demand information that may reveal the identities of confidential sources.

Media groups have also raised concerns over the absence of an explicit exemption for journalists. They told the court that earlier drafts of the legislation contained protections for journalism, but those safeguards were missing from the final version.

The publishers said they had received assurances from the government during an August meeting that press freedom would be protected. However, they argued that verbal assurances were insufficient without clear legal safeguards.

The dispute comes amid a wider debate over press freedom in India since Modi took office in 2014. Critics have accused the government of contributing to a decline in media independence, while the government has rejected the allegations and maintained that it respects press freedom.

The outcome of the case could have significant implications for how Indian news organisations handle personal data, conduct investigations and protect sources while reporting on matters of public interest.