Story perspectives

India Supreme Court to hear publishers’ privacy law challenge

By Drooid · Oct 27, 2026, 2:40 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Supreme Court Hears Challenge

India’s Supreme Court will hear a challenge by 21 news publishers against the privacy law.
The Digital News Publishers Association says the law lacks a media exemption, threatening press freedom.
The law forces journalists to obtain consent and notify subjects before publishing investigations.
From next year, New Delhi may order any data holder to furnish information, risking source disclosure.

Summary

India Slides Rankings

India fell to 157th of 180 in Reporters Without Borders' 2026 Press Freedom Index, down from 140th in 2014.
Opposition politicians allege the Modi government favours billionaire owners Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, both deny.
Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance controls Network18 (CNN-News18, CNBC-TV18) and Gautam Adani’s group seized New Delhi Television in December 2022.
The government dismissed the rankings as flawed, insisting India’s media remains vibrant and diverse.

History

Historical Context

In 1975-77 Indira Gandhi’s Emergency suspended civil liberties, imposed press censorship and detained more than 1,200 journalists. The episode showed how unchecked executive power can silence news sources. Today the Supreme Court is hearing a challenge by 21 publishers and the Digital News Publishers Association to a privacy law, recalling the Emergency’s threat to source protection.

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Supreme Court Hears Challenge

India’s Supreme Court will hear a challenge by 21 news publishers against the privacy law.
The Digital News Publishers Association says the law lacks a media exemption, threatening press freedom.
The law forces journalists to obtain consent and notify subjects before publishing investigations.
From next year, New Delhi may order any data holder to furnish information, risking source disclosure.

1 / 3