EXCLUSIVE: Ambani, Adani outlets among Indian publishers contesting Modi’s privacy law
A group of 21 news publishers, including outlets owned by billionaires Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, has filed a challenge against the Indian government's data protection law in the Supreme Court. The legal challenge argues that the legislation threatens press freedom, could severely impact investigative reporting, and creates a risk of newsroom shutdowns by allowing authorities to identify sources. While the publishers seek to invalidate provisions of the law, the Supreme Court has so far declined to stay the Digital Personal Data Protection Act provisions, though it has issued notice on the plea.
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- ✓ A group of 21 news publishers has challenged India's privacy law in court.
- ✓ The challenging publishers include companies owned by billionaires Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani.
- ✓ The Supreme Court refused to stay the provisions of the DPDP Act and issued a notice on the plea.
What changed
The Supreme Court declined to stay the provisions of the Data Protection Act while issuing a notice on the publishers' petition.
Live updates
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Indian Publishers Challenge Modi Privacy Law
A group of 21 news publishers, including outlets owned by billionaires Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, has filed a challenge against the Indian government's data protection law in the Supreme Court. The legal challenge argues that the legislation threatens press freedom, could severely impact investigative reporting, and creates a risk of newsroom shutdowns by allowing authorities to identify sources. While the publishers seek to invalidate provisions of the law, the Supreme Court has so far declined to stay the Digital Personal Data Protection Act provisions, though it has issued notice on the plea.
Why it matters
The dispute centers on the interaction between privacy regulations and journalistic protections under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration. Major media groups contend that compliance burdens and provisions within the law endanger independent reporting and public interest journalism. The Supreme Court is now reviewing the constitutional validity of the legislation following the publishers' petition.
What is confirmed
- A group of 21 news publishers has challenged India's privacy law in court.
- The challenging publishers include companies owned by billionaires Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani.
- The Supreme Court refused to stay the provisions of the DPDP Act and issued a notice on the plea.
Still unconfirmed
- Newsrooms face shutdown risk and investigative work will be trampled under the privacy law.
What to watch next
- Supreme Court hearings on the DPDP Act petition
- Government responses to the notice issued by the court
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (10)
- www.yahoo.com — Yahoo
- Reuters — EXCLUSIVE: Ambani, Adani outlets among Indian publishers contesting Modi’s privacy law
- Reuters — Indian media groups decry Modi’s privacy law in court, say newsrooms face shutdown risk
- The Hindu — Indian publishers contest Modi government’s privacy law
- The Times of India — ‘New privacy law violates freedom of speech, threatens journalistic activity’: Digital news body may move SC
- LawBeat — Supreme Court Refuses To Stay DPDP Act Provisions; Notice Issued On Plea Alleging Violation Of Press...
- sg.news.yahoo.com — Prisoner serving 20 years under abolished sentence appeals for release - Yahoo News Singapore
- www.yahoo.com — Exclusive-Ambani, Adani outlets among Indian publishers ...
- www.deccanherald.com — Ambani, Adani outlets among Indian publishers contesting Modi ...
- kelo.com — Exclusive-Ambani, Adani outlets among Indian publishers ...
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