Sun Oct 26 17:52:50 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text, along with a summary of the article:
Summary:
Citizens and activists in Chennai and other districts of Tamil Nadu, India, launched a campaign against the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act) of 2023 and are demanding a rollback of related amendments to the Right to Information (RTI) Act. They argue that the DPDP Act, particularly through its amendment to the RTI Act, threatens freedom of the press, hinders the fight against corruption, and limits citizens’ access to vital information necessary for holding the government accountable. The activists are concerned that the new rules stemming from the DPDP Act will severely restrict the information available under RTI, especially concerning personal data, making it difficult to expose wrongdoing and demand transparency. They fear it gives the government too much control over personal data and will stifle journalistic investigations.
News Article:
Chennai Residents Protest Data Protection Act, Claim it Guts Right to Information
CHENNAI, October 26, 2025 – A coalition of residents and civic activists in Chennai and across Tamil Nadu launched a protest this Sunday against the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act) of 2023 and its related amendments to the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Protesters are demanding a rollback, arguing that the new legislation undermines fundamental rights and cripples transparency in governance.
The core of the opposition lies in the DPDP Act’s amendment to Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act. Activists claim this amendment, which broadly exempts all personal information from disclosure, effectively neuters the RTI’s ability to expose corruption and hold public officials accountable.
“The DPDP Act is extremely problematic and poses a grave threat to freedom of the press and to fundamental rights of citizens,” stated Anjali Bhardwaj, co-convener of the National Campaign for People’s Right to Information. She argued that the new law would allow officials to withhold crucial information under the guise of protecting personal data, making it impossible to investigate corruption and human rights violations. Bhardwaj added, “By not providing any exemption for journalistic work from the obligations, the Data Protection Act will limit journalism to PR.”
Jayaram Venkatesan, convenor of Arappor Iyakkam, echoed these concerns, saying, “The DPDP Act and the RTI Act amendment made through the DPDP Act is an assault on the democratic rights of citizens. If this act is operationalised through which all personal data is exempted, it will result in denial of most information that citizens access today regarding their grievance status and corruption issues.”
Activists fear that the sweeping exemption for personal information will prevent citizens from accessing information such as the names of contractors and officials involved in public works projects, making it impossible to investigate infrastructure failures and other forms of corruption.
The Central Government’s recent announcement that rules for the DPDP Act will be formulated this year has fueled the urgency of the protests. Opponents are calling for a thorough review and revision of the Act’s problematic provisions before it is fully implemented. They insist that the law, in its current form, poses a significant threat to transparency, accountability, and the fundamental rights of Indian citizens.
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