PCI urges govt to keep work of print, online & electronic media outside DPDP Act

A memorandum in this regard has been submitted to Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Electronics and Information and Broadcasting

by e4m Staff
Published: Jun 25, 2025 6:12 PM | 2 min read

The Press Club of India (PCI), in association with 21 press bodies and over 1,000 journalists and photo journalists from across the country, has submitted a joint memorandum to Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Electronics and Information and Broadcasting (MeitY), in New Delhi, urging him to keep the professional work of journalists across print, online and electronic media, outside the scope of the Data Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023.

“The concerns expressed in the memorandum were put together by the PCI after a close study of various definitions and provisions of the Act with legal and personal data experts. It was found that the Act comes directly against the journalists’ fundamental right to work granted by Article 19 (1) (a) and (g) of the Constitution,” stated a press release from PCI.

In the memorandum, the 22 press bodies located in various states expressed deep concern at the Ministry bringing journalistic work under its ambit, even though it was kept out at the drafting stage of the Bill. The joint memorandum for the minister in-charge was submitted through Dhirendra Ojha, the principal director general, Press Information Bureau (PIB) in New Delhi by PCI president Gautam Lahiri and secretary general Neeraj Thakur.

“We submitted the memorandum yesterday through PDG and sought an appointment with the minister for clarification. The office of the PDG has confirmed that the memorandum has been sent to the minister’s office. The PDG has promised to convey our message about the appointment to him. We are awaiting his answer, and hope the honourable minister will hear our arguments seeking the professional work of the journalists outside the purview of the Act. and clear the misgivings,” Lahiri said.

The memorandum is part of a signature campaign initiated by the PCI in May, 2025, to press on the Ministry to bring about the crucial change in the Act, so that it doesn’t hamper the work of reporters and photo journalists across print, online and electronic media.