Now Reading: Newsrooms not covered under DPDP Act, say govt sources
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Newsrooms not covered under DPDP Act, say govt sources
The Story in Brief
Government sources said on Saturday (7 November 2026) that journalists and news organisations do not fall under the definition of ‘data fiduciaries’ under the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act and are therefore not covered by its provisions. The sources said the definition is ‘clear’ and ‘proper’ and covers entities such as banks, insurance companies, telecom operators and e-commerce platforms that collect and process personal data.
The clarification comes amid concerns among news publishers that the absence of an explicit exemption for journalistic activities could complicate reporting on matters of public interest. In October 2026, Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had rejected concerns that the law could constrain investigative journalism, asserting that the Constitution's guarantee of press freedom remained paramount. Sources indicated the government is open to amending the law if necessary. The Digital News Publishers Association has approached the Supreme Court challenging the law, the matter is listed for hearing on 17 November.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both Orissa Post and The Hindu Businessline report the same government-sourced clarification that journalists are not covered under the DPDP Act, attributing the assurance to unnamed sources and noting the government’s openness to an amendment. The Times of India frames the story differently, foregrounding the legal challenge by the Digital News Publishers Association and detailing concerns over press freedom, RTI access and government accountability. While the first two outlets lead with the government’s reassurance, the Times of India leads with the scrutiny and the upcoming Supreme Court hearing on 17 November. The balanced reading is that the government has offered a verbal clarification but has not made an explicit statutory exemption, leaving the matter pending before the court.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): Syndicated copy (carried by orissapost.com, thehindubusinessline.com), timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
