Indian government clarifies journalists not data fiduciaries under DPDP Act
Good news for the media: the Indian government just clarified that journalists and newsrooms aren't counted as "data fiduciaries" under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP).
This means those new data rules, meant for banks and telecom companies, don't apply to reporters, so investigative journalism won't get tangled up in extra red tape.
Ashwini Vaishnaw reassures on press freedom
Media groups had worried that without clear exemptions, the DPDP Act could make it harder to report stories involving personal data or protect sources.
Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reassured everyone that press freedom is protected by the Constitution and even invited journalists to talk things through.
The government also signaled they're open to tweaking the law if needed, aiming to keep journalism safe from unnecessary restrictions.