Twenty-one Indian news organisations have challenged India’s digital privacy law in the Supreme Court, arguing that it could restrict press freedom and make investigative journalism difficult. They have warned that the law could also put journalists’ confidential sources at risk.

According to a Reuters report today, the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA), which represents media organisations, has challenged provisions of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act. Its members include Network18, NDTV, The Indian Express and Times Internet.

The media groups argue that requiring journalists to seek consent from people they are reporting on could make investigations difficult. They say this could alert the subjects of investigations, allowing them to destroy evidence or influence witnesses before a story is published.

The publishers are also concerned that people could withdraw their consent and request the deletion of their personal data, this could force news organisations to remove or heavily edit factual news reports, even when the information is important to the public.

Another concern is the government’s power to demand information from organisations handling personal data. The publishers fear that this could expose confidential sources who provide journalists with information about corruption, corporate wrongdoing and other matters of public interest.

The media groups have also argued that the law does not provide a clear, written exemption for journalistic activities. They said the government had assured them that press freedom would be protected, but they want this protection to be clearly established in writing.

The disputed provisions of the law are scheduled to come into effect in May 2027. The government has said it respects press freedom, while the media groups argue that the law could seriously affect independent reporting and investigative journalism.The Supreme Court heard the matter on October 27 and scheduled the case for further hearing next month.