Over 30 civil society organisations have launched a campaign demanding the reversal of a contentious provision in the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act that amends the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The amendment empowers authorities to withhold any information containing personal details, which, according to activists, journalists, and legal professionals, severely hampers access to vital data used to expose corruption and ensure government accountability.
The DPDP Act, enacted in 2023, altered a key clause of the RTI Act, removing the earlier safeguard that allowed disclosure of personal information if it served the public interest and did not constitute an ‘unwarranted’ invasion of privacy.
Further, Anjali Bhardwaj, co-convenor, National Campaign for Peoples’ Right to Information (NCPRI), highlighted that the changes could block access to electoral roll data crucial for transparency in elections, or to information on welfare schemes such as rations, pensions, and scholarships, which are often used for public audits. She also warned that information on non-performing assets or details of government contractors may now be withheld, despite being in the public interest.
Additionally, concerns were raised about the government-appointed Data Protection Board, which has the authority to levy fines of up to Rs 5 billion. Bhardwaj pointed out that this could have a chilling effect on journalism, as complaints regarding the publication of data deemed to violate the law may be used to stifle critical reporting.
Among the organisations backing the rollback are the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF), Software Freedom Law Centre (SFLC), Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), Satark Nagrik Sangathan (SNS), Article 21 Trust, Centre for Financial Accountability, Common Cause, People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), and the National Campaign for People’s Right to Information (NCPRI).
