Newsrooms will shut down without media exemption under DPDP law: DNPA

The Digital News Publishers Association told the Supreme Court that newsrooms could shut down without a journalistic exemption under the DPDP Act. The court issued notices to the Centre but declined to grant an interim stay before hearing the government.

New Delhi: Newsrooms will shut down if journalists are made to seek permission before publishing information under the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act and the DPDP Rules, the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) told the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana took note of the submissions and the petition filed by the DNPA, which comprises 21 digital news publishers, including companies owned by the Ambani and Adani groups, and issued notices to the Union ministries of Law and Justice, and Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

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The matter has been listed for further hearing on November 17 along with pending petitions.

At the outset, senior advocate Madhavi Divan, appearing for the DNPA, urged the bench to consider the stay application, saying that the absence of an exemption for journalistic activities could fundamentally change how news is gathered and reported.

“This is perhaps the first comprehensive petition by what we call legacy media. There has been some debate over citizen journalists. We are the traditional, conventional legacy media,” she said.

The senior lawyer said requiring journalists to seek permission from individuals before publishing information about them could undermine the functioning of newsrooms.

She also raised concerns about the amendment to Section 8(1)(j) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, which deals with the disclosure of personal information held by public authorities.

The absence of a journalistic exemption amounts to pre-censorship of the press and could have serious consequences for news coverage, she said.

“We have raised the argument concerning exemptions as well. Otherwise, newsrooms will shut down if we have to ask for permission.

“It is a complete regime of pre-censorship. We have to ask your permission if we report on you. How can that ever be? What is news otherwise? If we report something wrong, incorrect or inaccurate, we must face the consequences,” she said.

Divan said earlier laws had excluded journalism and questioned why the exemption had not been retained.

“When the court examines this Act in detail, it will find that it was not meant for journalism at all. In fact, the earlier versions excluded journalism. We do not know why this has happened. Clearly, it was not meant for us,” she said.

The plea sought the striking down of several provisions of the data protection law and its accompanying rules as unconstitutional, saying that the absence of an exemption for journalistic activities could seriously impede news reporting, undermine investigative journalism and compromise the confidentiality of sources.

The plea sought a direction declaring that “the substituted clause (g) of Section 8(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, which was brought into force through Section 44(3) of the DPDP Act, 2023, is ultra vires the Constitution”.

Several media organisations, including Network18 and NDTV, which are owned by the Ambani and Adani groups respectively, are part of the DNPA. Its members also include The Indian Express, Times Internet, The Hindu, India Today, Zee Media, ABP Pvt Ltd, Malayala Manorama, Mathrubhumi, Amar Ujala, Eenadu Television Pvt Ltd and others.

After taking note of the submissions, the bench declined to grant an interim stay on the law without hearing the government.

“No stay without hearing the other side. But notice on stay application issued,” the CJI said.

The plea challenged the provisions on the grounds that they violate Articles 14, 19(1)(a), 19(1)(g) and 21 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality, freedom of speech and expression, the right to practise a profession, and the right to life and personal liberty.

The plea sought a declaration that several provisions of the DPDP Act and Rules are unconstitutional to the extent that they infringe fundamental rights.

The principal contention is that the legislation does not provide a specific exemption for journalistic activities, potentially subjecting news publishers, editors and reporters to data protection obligations that are incompatible with the functioning of a free press.

The DNPA said the DPDP Act and Rules could place significant restrictions on investigative reporting by requiring journalists and publishers to comply with provisions governing notice, consent, withdrawal of consent and erasure of personal data.

According to the petition, journalists investigating corruption, misconduct or irregularities in public affairs may need to obtain and process personal information about the very individuals whose conduct is under scrutiny.

The plea relied on the judgment in the Justice K S Puttaswamy case, which recognised the right to privacy as a fundamental right.

It said the data protection framework must also respect freedom of speech and expression and the public’s right to know.

A key element of the challenge concerns Section 44(3) of the DPDP Act, which amends Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act relating to the disclosure of personal information.

The plea also challenged Sections 36 and 37 of the Act, read with Rule 23 and the Seventh Schedule of the DPDP Rules.

According to the petition, Section 36 empowers the Centre to seek information from data fiduciaries and intermediaries without adequate safeguards governing necessity, proportionality, judicial oversight or notice to affected individuals.