New privacy law will abolish newsrooms, change the concept of news: Digital News Publishers Association

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The Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA), a group of 21 publishers across the media spectrum, including those owned by the Ambani and Adani groups, said the central government’s new privacy law would “close newsrooms and usher in an era of censorship”.

DNPA, which represents 22 media publishers, including The Hindu Publishing (P) Ltd., urged the Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to issue a notice to the Union government on their request to maintain the Digital Privacy Act, 2023 and the Digital Privacy Rules, 2025.

The Supreme Court issued a notice to the Center and listed the case for detailed hearing on November 17.

“We cannot issue ex parte stay orders,” Chief Justice Kant said.

Senior advocate Madhavi Divan and advocate Anuj Tiwari, appearing for the DNPA, said the association had not sought a stay but wanted the Center to approach the court seeking an interim stay on the Privacy Act.

“If I (the publishers) are left at the mercy of the proxy (the data subject) who will also have the power to exercise control over the personal data, it will close the newsrooms… It changes the very concept of news,” Ms Divan said.

The CJI welcomed suggestions from the DNPA on how to balance the rights of innocent citizens against abuse of press freedom by the media while protecting their right to disseminate information to the public.

“You (DNPA) are the best person to tell us… How do we make sure that balance is struck?” Chief Justice Kant addressed Ms. Divan.

Senior counsel said that the Privacy Act was not meant for journalists at all. The very objectives of the Act were not intended to curtail journalistic freedom exercised by traditional and established media houses which were already regulated by bodies such as the Press Council of India.

“If we report inaccurately, we will suffer… Now they say we have to ask them before publishing?” Mrs. Divan invited him.

The DNPA argued that the law was completely contrary to the law laid down by the Supreme Court in its judgment on privacy, which held the right to be inviolable and fundamental to human dignity and life.

“They impermissibly restrict the fundamental right to information and freedom of speech and expression,” the petition reads.

The Act “has not provided any exemption in favor of journalistic activity as a separate class of processing which is entitled to constitutional protection under Article 14 and 19(l)(a) of the Constitution of India and threatens the entire spectrum of journalistic activity carried out by journalists, ground reporters, citizens, whistleblowers, RTI activists and other stakeholders, and strikes at the heart of our Constitution and against our principles of the Constitution of India”.

It said publishers, editors, reporters and correspondents were placed under notice and prior consent, forced deletion and verifiable consent regimes as a result of the law.

“Such power can be turned to identify and target journalistic sources and is thus constitutionally incompetent,” the petition states.

Published – 27 Oct 2026 12:14 IST