RSF says India’s data protection law cripples the Right to Information Act
Reporters Without Borders points out that whistle-blowers will be deterred by the requirement that the Right to Information Act can be invoked only with the express permission of the subject of inquiry. By P.K.Balachandran Colombo, April 30 – Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has slammed India’s new data protection law in its latest report on freedom of information. The report points out that whistle- blowers will be deterred by the requirement that the Right to Information Act can be invoked only with the express permission of the subject of enquiry. The report for 2025-26 noted that there has been a deterioration in more than 60% of states — 110 out of 180 and is notably the case in India (157th), Egypt (169th), Israel (116th) and Georgia (135th). “The criminalisation of journalism, which is rooted in circumventing press law and misusing emergency legislation and common law, is proving to be a global phenomenon,” RSF said. ...