The government says the new Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act is about protecting our privacy. But a closer look shows something very different. This law isn’t about keeping our data safeâitâs about keeping the public in the dark.
For nearly two decades, the Right to Information (RTI) Act has helped citizens demand answers. People have used it to track pension files, expose corruption, and shine a light on government decisions. Not once in these years has anyone shown that RTI caused a serious invasion of privacy. Courts and rules already protected personal data that wasnât in the public interest. The system wasnât brokenâbut now, itâs being taken apart.
The DPDP Act gives the government the power to decide what data can and cannot be accessed. Under this new law, asking for basic information, like who delayed your pension or which company got a public contract, could be blocked. And if you try to collect this information on your own, you could be punished. The government can label you a âdata fiduciaryâ and demand you get consent from every person you contact. No consent? A complaint can be filed against you, and you could be fined up to âč500 crore.
This puts journalists, researchers, activists, and ordinary citizens in danger. Want to investigate a scam? You might face massive penalties. Want to report on welfare schemes or election issues? Youâll need permissions that are almost impossible to get. And the worst part? The Data Protection Board that handles these complaints will be under the control of the very government youâre trying to question.
What this law really does is protect those in powerâfrom being questioned, from being exposed. Itâs no surprise that it comes at a time when people are asking tough questions about electoral bonds, welfare programs, and government contracts.
The DPDP Act turns transparency into a crime. It creates fear, not protection. And it shifts power away from the people and toward the government. This law needs to be challengedânot just in court, but by every citizen who believes in democracy. Because without the right to ask questions, we lose the right to hold anyone accountable. And thatâs a loss we cannot afford.
-Team CFA