Let Me Explain: How BJP government’s new data protection law endangers Right To Information

The new law will be a big blow to transparency. Is that why the government brought it?

WrittenBy:Pooja Prasanna
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Exposing corruption, making the powerful accountable to the public, helping journalists bring truth to light – the Right To Information has not only been a boon for transparency but has also played a significant role in strengthening the country's democracy.

But now India’s right to know is in danger. 

The contentious Digital Personal Data Protection Act, brought in by the BJP government, threatens to hollow out the RTI. In the name of privacy, provisions of the DPDP Act can be used to deny citizens, journalists, transparency activists all kinds of crucial information.

In this episode, Pooja Prasanna breaks down how the DPDP Act, in its current form, will leave RTI toothless and devoid of any real power. She takes a look at how this weakening of the transparency law will hurt the country’s progress. 

Watch.

Also see
article image‘Digital Personal Data Protection Act a tool to dilute RTI’
article image‘Only law for people weakened’: Nearly 2 decades on, gaping holes in RTI machinery

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