Guwahati: The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) strongly condemns the amendments
introduced to the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, through Section 44(3)
of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023. These changes,
which alter Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, impose a blanket exemption on
the disclosure of personal information, eliminating the critical public
interest safeguard that allowed transparency in matters of accountability.
The IJU demands the immediate repeal of these regressive amendments to
restore the RTI Act’s role as a cornerstone of democratic governance and
press freedom.
The RTI Act has been an indispensable tool for journalists across India,
empowering investigative reporting, exposing corruption, and ensuring
public institutions remain answerable to citizens. By removing the provision
that permitted disclosure of personal information in the larger public
interest, the DPDP Act’s amendments create a chilling effect on the ability
of journalists to access critical information. In a statement, IJU President
and former member of Press Council of India Geetartha Pathak and
Secretary General and Vice President of International Federation of
Journalists (IFJ) Sabina Inderjit said that this not only undermines the
fundamental right to freedom of expression under Article 19(1)(a) but also
stifles the press’s role in holding power to account.
The IJU is particularly alarmed by the absence of exemptions for
journalistic work under the DPDP Act and the establishment of a
government-controlled Data Protection Board with sweeping powers to
impose hefty penalties. Such provisions risk weaponizing data protection
laws against media professionals, activists, and citizens seeking
transparency. The amendments also contradict global best practices,
where data protection frameworks coexist with robust transparency laws to
balance privacy and public interest.
We stand in solidarity with civil society groups, RTI activists, and opposition
leaders who have raised concerns about this assault on transparency. The
IJU urges the Union Government to repeal Section 44(3) of the DPDP Act
and engage in meaningful consultations with stakeholders to ensure that
data protection laws strengthen, rather than weaken, democratic rights.
The RTI Act must remain a beacon of accountability, and the press must be
free to fulfill its duty without fear of reprisal.
