The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act is in harmony with the principles of transparency in public life enshrined in the Right to Information (RTI) Act, as well as a landmark Supreme Court judgement on right to privacy, union minister for electronics and information technology Ashwini Vaishnaw says.

A change to the RTI Act established by the DPDP Act has created a comprehensive exemption for all personal data from being disclosed, eliminating a clause that permitted disclosure if the information pertained to public activity or served the public interest.

It has furthermore eliminated another clause that indicated information that cannot be withheld from Parliament or a state legislature shall not be withheld from any individual.

“The DPDP Act, specified in Section 3, allows exemptions for personal data that is ‘made or caused to be made publicly accessible’ by persons or organizations under legal duties. This guarantees openness while upholding the requirement for confidentiality," says Ashwini.

The minister guaranteed that personal details that must be revealed due to legal requirements, including various laws related to public programs like MGNREGA, will still be disclosed under the RTI Act.

Ashwini contended that the changes to the DPDP Act will not limit the sharing of personal data but will instead enhance individuals' privacy rights and deter possible misuse of the legislation.

The minister, addressing issues highlighted by Ramesh in a letter from March 23, stressed the government's dedication to maintaining a balance between transparency in public affairs and the essential right to privacy.

Ramesh, in his correspondence, allegedly raised worries regarding possible clashes between the DPDP Act and the RTI Act, concerned that the forthcoming legislation might impede transparency and accountability.

Ashwini also emphasized the Supreme Court's acknowledgment of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution, which encompasses the right to privacy as a fundamental component.

This follows shortly after human rights advocates and civil society organizations launched a campaign in the national capital asserting that the DPDP Act undermined and compromised the RTI Act.

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The amendment to the RTI Act through the DPDP Act removes vital exceptions, applying a broad exemption on personal data, and limiting access to this information diminishes transparency, decreases the public's capacity to hold officials accountable, and limits access to essential government documents and internal governance, the National Campaign for People's Right to Information remarked in a statement last month.