New Delhi: India has begun enforcing the Digital Personal Data Protection Act. The law aims to limit the collection of personal information by companies and promises stronger consent rights for users. Large firms such as Amazon, Meta, and OpenAI must now collect only purpose-specific data and inform users about breaches. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology described the law as a citizen-focused framework for responsible data use.
Experts and rights groups dispute this claim. They point to provisions that give the government wide access to personal information without independent checks. They also highlight the structure of the Data Protection Board. The board has four government-appointed members and oversees the privacy of 1.4 billion people. Critics argue that this model compromises privacy and restricts free expression.
Analysts compare the DPDP with the European Union’s GDPR. GDPR enforces strict consent rules and has an independent regulator. Prateek Waghre from the Tech Global Institute said the DPDP formalizes data processing practices without protecting citizens from state overreach. He noted that successive drafts increased the scope of executive power. He also warned that authorities might pressure citizens and businesses to hand over information.
The DPDP’s amendment to the Right to Information Act has raised strong objections. Activists argue that public authorities can now refuse records even when the information serves public interest. They say this change blocks details needed to expose corruption. Examples include names of contractors handling public works and names of major loan defaulters in state banks.
Journalists face new compliance burdens under the DPDP. The law treats media outlets as significant data fiduciaries. They must obtain consent before using personal information in investigations. Press bodies say the absence of specific exemptions will obstruct reporting. They warn that fines of up to 30 million dollars for violations will deter critical journalism and weaken democratic accountability.
