Key facts
- The law, set to take effect in May 2027, requires prior consent from individuals for investigation and allows for the erasure of news stories.
- The Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) stated that the lack of a written carve-out for journalists, unlike in the EU, Singapore, and Britain, is alarming.
- India's ranking in Reporters Without Borders' World Press Freedom Index fell to 157th out of 180 countries this year.
A group of 21 Indian news publishers, including media outlets owned by billionaires Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, have challenged the country's privacy law in the Supreme Court. They argue that the law, which takes effect in May 2027, threatens investigative journalism and could expose journalists' sources. The publishers are demanding that most of the law's contentious provisions be quashed, arguing it could force journalists to obtain prior consent for investigations and compel the erasure of stories. The Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) expressed alarm over the lack of a specific carve-out for journalists, similar to those in the EU, Singapore, and Britain. India's ranking in the World Press Freedom Index has fallen to 157th out of 180 countries.