How should the DPDP Act treat journalism?

What this is about

On 27 October 2026 the Supreme Court issued notice to the Union government on a petition by the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA), which says it represents 21 news publishers. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana did not grant an interim stay and listed the matter for 17 November 2026. Supreme Court Observer

The publishers argue that the DPDP Act, 2023 and the DPDP Rules, 2025 have no specific exemption for journalism. They say rules on consent, withdrawal of consent, erasure and the government's power to call for information could reach investigations, archives and confidential sources, and they note that earlier versions of the law had excluded journalism. The CJI said a balance has to be struck with the rights of citizens. Supreme Court Observer | ThePrint

On 28 October 2026 Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the law maintains the journalistic freedom the Constitution guarantees and invited editors to a meeting. He said the government was open to suggestions. ThePrint | The Tribune

Some news organisations covering this case, such as The Indian Express and Times Internet, are among the DNPA publishers behind the petition.

Discussed in: India's Media Giants Sue Government Over Data Privacy Law (India Global Review, 28 October 2026) (video). Facts above are taken from the written sources, not the video.

The provisions in question

The official text of each section, with a plain English summary:

• Section 6: consent and its withdrawal
• Section 12: correction and erasure
• Section 17: exemptions, which do not list journalism
• Section 36: power to call for information
• Section 37: blocking directions

Official text: The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (No. 22 of 2023), Gazette of India Extraordinary, Part II Section 1, No. 25, 11 August 2023.

Sources

• Supreme Court Observer: DPDP Act, publishers challenge law's reach into newsrooms (27 October 2026)
• ThePrint: 'No khot' in privacy law, says Vaishnaw; invites editors for meeting (28 October 2026)
• The Tribune: Govt invites editors for talks on digital data privacy law (28 October 2026)

Poll added 30 October 2026.

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