Network18, NDTV among 21 publishers challenging India’s privacy law in Supreme Court

A coalition of 21 Indian news publishers, including Network18, NDTV, The Indian Express and Times Internet, has challenged provisions of India’s Digital Personal Data Protection framework in the Supreme Court, arguing that the law could restrict investigative journalism and compromise journalists’ sources.

The challenge, filed through the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) on October 6, is scheduled to be heard on October 27. The publishers are seeking to strike down several provisions that are due to come into force in May 2027.

A central concern is the law’s consent requirement. The DNPA has argued that applying such obligations to journalism could require reporters to notify people they are investigating and seek permission to process their personal data, potentially alerting subjects before publication and creating risks around evidence and witnesses.

Publishers have also challenged provisions allowing individuals to withdraw consent and seek erasure of their data. They argue that, without an explicit public-interest safeguard for journalism, those rights could be used to demand the removal or redaction of factual news reports.

Another concern centres on government powers to require organisations handling personal data to furnish information. The DNPA said such powers could expose confidential journalistic sources and deter whistleblowers from sharing information related to corruption, corporate wrongdoing or electoral malpractice.

The publishers have also pointed out that India’s framework does not provide an explicit journalism-specific exemption comparable to protections available under privacy regimes in jurisdictions including the European Union, Singapore and the UK.

The government has previously maintained that the DPDP framework is designed to protect citizens’ privacy while enabling responsible data processing. The IT ministry did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment on the latest lawsuit.

For digital publishers, the case could become a significant test of how India balances privacy rights against public-interest journalism, particularly as newsrooms increasingly rely on digital records, audience data and online investigative tools.