This month, veteran information activist Venkatesh Nayak challenged provisions of the Data Protection Act, 2023, and the 2025 Rules in the Supreme Court, raising concerns about an amendment that was included without proper debate or explanation, which could cripple the Right to Information Act by creating a blanket exemption in the name of right to privacy. In effect, the government is using the right to privacy, meant to protect citizens’ data, especially from corporations, to shield information that should be disclosed in the public interest and to protect public officials from scrutiny.