Indian media groups decry Modi’s privacy law in court, say newsrooms face shutdown risk

Indian media organizations have challenged the government's privacy legislation in the Supreme Court, arguing that the law poses an existential threat to newsrooms. The legal challenge, initiated on Tuesday, centers on a provision requiring journalists to obtain prior consent from individuals before reporting on them. Media representatives contend that this mandate functions as a form of pre-censorship that could effectively paralyze journalistic operations.

The case represents a significant confrontation between the Indian government and the press regarding the balance between individual privacy rights and freedom of the press. Petitioners argue that the current regulatory framework would force newsrooms to shut down, highlighting concerns over the practical implications of the law on investigative reporting and daily news coverage.