Digital news divisions representing legacy journalism organizations have approached the Supreme Court of India to challenge several restrictive sections of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, warning that the statute could paralyze independent investigative reporting. The joint constitutional petition asserts that the law lacks vital journalistic exemptions, exposing news organizations to catastrophic regulatory penalties and operational closures when reporting on matters of public interest.
Media petitioners argue that statutory requirements demanding mandatory individual consent before collecting or processing personal data directly conflict with the constitutional guarantee of free expression under Article 19(1)(a). Editorial leaders noted that investigative journalism inherently requires collecting information concerning corruption, financial fraud, and corporate malfeasance without notifying prospective subjects in advance. The filing highlights that while government investigative agencies received broad statutory carve-outs, working journalists were denied reciprocal professional shields. The apex court scheduled the constitutional challenge alongside related pending petitions evaluating digital privacy rights and regulatory oversight mechanisms.
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Sources:
https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/newsrooms-will-shutdown-digital-wings-of-legacy-media-move-supreme-court-challenging-personal-data-protection-law-556103