The debate surrounding the DPDPA and its impact on the RTI Act underscores the complexity of balancing privacy rights with the need for transparency in governance. As stakeholders continue to voice their concerns, the government will need to find a way to protect both privacy and public access to information if it wants to maintain the integrity of India’s democratic principles.
Civil society organisations have voiced their concerns as well. Mishi Choudhary, Founder, Software Freedom Law Centre India (SFLC.in), argued that the revelation only reaffirms what civil society organisations have been saying through consultations and their objections. It’s a disservice to the nation that DoPT omitted to object.