Publishers Group Files Supreme Court Challenge on Privacy Law
· India · Indian Express, Al Jazeera
The Digital News Publishers Association and 21 news publishers have filed a Supreme Court petition challenging India’s privacy law, seeking to strike down most of its contentious provisions effective May 2027. The law, championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, would require investigative journalists to obtain prior consent from subjects and could expose sources, the group argues. Members of the DNPA include Mukesh Ambani’s Network18, Gautam Adani’s NDTV, The Indian Express and Times Internet. The lawsuit, filed on October 6 and slated for a Tuesday hearing, is the highest‑profile legal challenge to the privacy legislation to date. The petitioners warn the law’s consent requirement amounts to pre‑censorship and threatens press freedom, despite earlier government assurances of safeguards. The case currently awaits a response from the government’s IT ministry and the court.
Why it matters
The challenge directly threatens investigative journalism by compelling reporters to secure consent before publication and exposing their sources to government scrutiny, potentially silencing critical reporting. A Supreme Court ruling against the government could protect press freedom, but if the law stands, publishers face new compliance burdens that may curtail in‑depth reporting on powerful interests. The outcome will affect how Indian media cover politics, business and corruption for million
Read the original report — Indian Express
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