News Publishers Move SC To Challenge The DPDP Act

Publishers Challenge Data Law In SC

Twenty-one news publishers have moved the Supreme Court to challenge India's Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, arguing that it undermines investigative journalism. The petition, filed on October 6 through the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA), is listed for hearing on October 27. Its members include Network18, NDTV, the Indian Express and Times Internet.

The publishers contend that the law lacks a dedicated exemption for journalistic activity. They argue that consent requirements could force journalists to notify investigation subjects, allowing them to destroy evidence or pressure witnesses. Provisions letting individuals withdraw consent and seek erasure of personal data could, in the absence of a public-interest safeguard, compel publishers to delete or heavily redact factual reports. The DNPA also objects to government powers to seek information from data handlers, warning these could expose confidential sources and deter whistleblowers, and challenges the state's power to restrict information access in the public interest.

Why It Matters For Businesses

The case tests how India's data protection regime interacts with press freedom. The DPDP Act, 2023, and the Rules notified in November 2025, set obligations for collecting, processing and securing digital personal data, with a phased compliance window of up to 18 months. Penalties reach ₹250 Cr for failing to implement reasonable security safeguards, and up to ₹200 Cr for certain violations involving children's data. Most provisions take effect from May 2027.

The DNPA argues the government has given itself broad exemptions without matching protections for the press, and seeks to quash several contentious provisions. For media companies, the outcome will shape consent, erasure and disclosure workflows. For other data fiduciaries, the litigation signals that exemptions and public-interest carve-outs remain unsettled.

What To Watch Next

The October 27 he…