The Supreme Court has sought the Centre's response to a Digital News Publishers Association petition that says the data protection law threatens press freedom, without granting any stay.

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• The Supreme Court on Tuesday, October 27, issued notice to the Centre on a petition by the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) challenging provisions of the DPDP Act, 2023 and the DPDP Rules, 2025.
• The Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana heard senior advocate Madhavi Divan for the DNPA.
• The DNPA represents the digital operations of several established news organisations.
• The petition argues that the provisions infringe press freedom and the right to information.
• The Court also issued notice on the application for an interim stay, but the Chief Justice declined to pass any ex parte order.
• The publishers argue that requiring prior consent from subjects of investigative reporting amounts to de facto pre-censorship.
• They also say provisions on consent withdrawal and data erasure could force outlets to alter or delete archived public-interest reports.
• The petition also challenges the Act's changes to the personal-information exemption in Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act.
• The publishers say the Act lacks specific exemptions for journalistic activities.
• The Court observed that a balance must be struck between citizens' rights and the rights of the media.
• The Chief Justice asked the petitioners to suggest safeguards against misuse of any exemption for journalism.
• The Court is already hearing PILs that challenge DPDP provisions said to dilute transparency under the RTI Act.
• The matter will next be heard on November 17, and the Court has not ruled on the validity of the challenged provisions.