Journalist Bodies Call for Open Meeting to Raise Concerns Over DPDP Act

The joint forum has urged members and stakeholders across media organisations to participate in the open meeting and help build a stronger collective voice on the matter

by e4m Staff
Published: Apr 17, 2025 9:12 PM | 1 min read

Five major journalist bodies — Press Club of India (PCI), Indian Women’s Press Corps (IWPC), Editors Guild of India (EGI), Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ), and DIGIPUB — have jointly called for an open meeting on Monday, April 21 at 4 p.m. at the Press Club of India lawns, Raisina Road, to express serious concerns about the soon-to-be-notified Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act.

The meeting aims to highlight how certain provisions of the DPDP Act could impede journalistic work, with a special focus on the Act’s penalty clause that allows the government-appointed DPDP Board to impose fines ranging from Rs 250 crore to Rs 500 crore on individuals or entities.

Experts who have studied the legislation will be present to address media queries and explain the possible implications for press freedom and data-driven investigative journalism. The organisers also plan to seek a meeting with the concerned minister based on joint decisions taken during the open session.

“Our biggest concern is the chilling effect this Act could have on journalists. Globally, such laws offer exemptions to the press, and we hope India will follow suit,” said Gautam Lahiri, President of the Press Club of India.

The joint forum has urged members and stakeholders across media organisations to participate in the open meeting and help build a stronger collective voice on the matter.