Editors Guild Raises Alarm Over New Data Protection Rules, Urges MeitY to Clarify Compliance Fears for Newsrooms

The Editors Guild of India (EGI) has voiced strong concern over the government’s newly notified Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules, 2025, warning that the lack of clarity in the regulatory framework could place journalists and news organisations at risk of onerous compliance obligations that may undermine press freedom. In a statement, the Guild says the Rules fail to resolve long-standing uncertainties arising from the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, particularly the absence of any explicit exemption for journalistic activities. It noted that while the Act was passed last year with already significant implications for the Right to Information (RTI) Act regime, the Rules notified this week do little to clarify how newsrooms should operate safely under the law.