The government perceives no opportunity for alterations to the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 and might soon release a comprehensive response to address concerns brought up by journalists and civil rights organizations, as per reports.

Civil rights groups and journalist organizations voiced concerns regarding the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, arguing its clauses could undermine the Right to Information (RTI) Act and threaten press freedom.

Parliament has enacted the (DPDP) Act. Consequently, alterations cannot be made at this point. Reports indicate that rules are being formulated that can only be defined within the scope of the Act.

Government sources indicated that the DPDP Act and its draft regulations were developed following thousands of contributions from various organizations.

Concerning government assurance regarding frequently asked questions (FAQs), the source indicated it will be released shortly.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday stated that removing the clause in the RTI Act that equates citizens' right to information with that of legislators is "entirely unnecessary," and called on IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to halt, reassess, and revoke the changes made to the original 2005 legislation.

Vaishnaw replied to Ramesh, stating that personal information obligated for public release under different laws will still be revealed under the RTI Act following the enforcement of the new data protection regulation.

Supreme Court attorney and convener of TheCampaign for Judicial Accountability & Judicial Reforms (CJAR) Prashant Bhushan claimed that the Act prohibits and modifies the RTI Act to prevent the disclosure of personally identifiable information without permission.

Also Read: 5 Budget-Friendly Water Purifiers for this Monsoon

Civil rights organizations state that the provision not only undermines the RTI Act but also deters journalists and whistleblowers from revealing corrupt officials' identities without their permission.