Media professionals’ bodies join campaign against amending RTI Act

The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and its draft rules have drawn sharp criticism from media professionals and civil society groups for severely undermining the Right to Information Act. By expanding the definition of personal data, the legislation enables public authorities to withhold information that was previously accessible, effectively eroding the public’s right to transparency and accountability. This legislative shift creates a dangerous precedent where individuals identified in journalistic investigations of wrongdoing can claim privacy protections, potentially shielding misconduct from public scrutiny. Consequently, journalists fear their ability to hold power accountable is compromised, as the new framework prioritizes data privacy over the public interest, creating a significant barrier to investigative reporting. The controversy highlights a critical tension within open data frameworks: without robust legal safeguards, privacy laws can be weaponized to restrict information flow. This case underscores the importance of aligning data protection regulations with transparency laws to prevent the creation of information asymmetry between the government and citizens, ensuring that open data principles do not become obsolete in the name of privacy.

Source: thehindu.com
Published on 2025-07-31

Media professionals’ bodies join campaign against amending RTI Act

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