Ashwini Vaishnaw defends DPDP Act against press freedom concerns

Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw has stated that the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, does not infringe upon journalistic freedom. His remarks follow a Supreme Court notice seeking a government response to a petition filed by the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA).

The DNPA, representing 21 news organizations, argues that the absence of a specific journalism exemption could hinder investigative reporting, news gathering, and the protection of whistleblowers. The association contends that the law may weaken the citizens' right to information.

Minister Vaishnaw clarified that the Act does not require journalists to seek permission from subjects of stories, nor does it mandate the disclosure of news sources. He noted that the legislation was developed following the Supreme Court's recognition of privacy as a fundamental right and underwent extensive industry consultation. The government has indicated it is open to discussing concerns with media professionals and may consider amendments to explicitly safeguard journalistic activities if necessary.