'Newsrooms will shut if journalists seek prior nod under data protection law'
SC issues notice to Centre on data protection law as plea seeks quashing of DPDP Act
PTI
NEW DELHI, 27 OCT
Newsrooms will shut down if journalists have to seek permission before publishing information under the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act and DPDP Rules, the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) told the SC on Tuesday.
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana took note of the submissions and the petition of the DNPA comprising 21 digital news publishers, including companies owned by both the Ambani group and the Adani group, and issued notices to the Union ministries of Law and Justice, and Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
The matter has been listed for hearing on 17 November.
Senior advocate Madhavi Divan, appearing for 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.
The lawyer said that requiring journalists to seek permission from individuals before publishing information about them could undermine newsrooms.
She also raised concerns about the amendment to Section 8(1)(j) of the 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, she said.
The plea sought striking down several provisions of the data protection law as unconstitutional, saying that the absence of an exemption for journalistic activities could impede news reporting and compromise the confidentiality of sources.
Network18 and NDTV which are owned by the Ambani and the Adani groups respectively, are part of the DNPA and 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 made, the bench declined to grant an interim stay without hearing the government.
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