PCI, 21 press bodies submit memorandum opposing DPDP Act, cite threat to journalistic freedom
_vb_31.jpeg)
New Delhi: The Press Club of India (PCI), along with 21 other press bodies and over 1,000 journalists and photojournalists from across the country, has submitted a joint memorandum to Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, raising concerns over the provisions of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023. The memorandum argues that the Act undermines journalists’ fundamental right to work under Article 19(1)(a) and (g) of the Constitution.
In a press release issued on June 25, the PCI stated that the memorandum was drafted after a thorough legal review of the Act’s provisions in consultation with experts in data protection and law. It said that the Act, as it stands, threatens the ability of journalists across print, digital, and electronic platforms to perform their professional duties freely.
The press bodies expressed concern that although journalistic work was excluded at the draft stage of the Bill, the Ministry has now brought it within the Act’s ambit. The memorandum was submitted through Dhirendra Ojha, Principal Director General of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), by PCI president Gautam Lahiri and secretary general Neeraj Thakur.
“We submitted the memorandum yesterday through the PDG and sought an appointment with the minister for clarification. The PDG’s office confirmed that it has forwarded the document to the minister’s office and has promised to convey our request for a meeting. We await a response and hope the honourable minister will address our concerns and exempt journalistic work from the Act,” Lahiri said.
The memorandum forms part of a signature campaign launched by the PCI in May 2025, demanding amendments to the DPDP Act to prevent disruption to the daily functioning of journalists and photojournalists.
Supporting bodies include:
Press Club of India, Press Club of Hyderabad, State Press Club (Madhya Pradesh), Delhi Union of Journalists, Indian Women’s Press Corps, Press Association, Kerala Union of Working Journalists, Working News Cameramen’s Association, Mumbai Press Club, Press Club Jammu, Kerala Press Club Delhi, Indian Journalists Union, Press Club Kolkata, Press Club Bangalore, Gauhati Press Club, Shillong Press Club, Chennai Press Club, Pink City Press Club Jaipur, Chandigarh Press Club, Press Club Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram), Arunachal Press Club Itanagar, and Agartala Press Club.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Three youths bludgeon 40-year-old man to death with brick in Baghpat
Baghpat (UP) (PTI): Police said on Saturday that three youths allegedly bludgeoned a man to death with a brick in Meetli village here following a late-night beer party.
Preliminary investigations suggest the dispute arose from a suspected illicit relationship, said police, adding that the three accused have been detained.
Police received information on Saturday morning that the body of Sonu (40), a resident of Dola village, was lying in the forest near Meetli village.
There were visible signs of severe head injuries on his body, and bottles of liquor and beer were also recovered from the crime scene, leading to the suspicion that a drinking party had taken place there before the incident, police said.
Superintendent of Police Suraj Kumar Rai said police registered a case based on the written complaint submitted by the family members.
Police sent the body for a postmortem.
According to the deceased's family members, two youngsters from the same village took him away at 8:00 pm on Friday, and he never returned home.
They said when they tried to contact him via phone, his mobile number was switched off.
The deceased worked as a street food vendor in the village and is survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.
