Editors Guild of India statement on seizure of phones of journalists

Press Statement

January 31, 2025

The Editors Guild of India is concerned by the reports that Chennai police has seized the mobile phones and electronic devices of several journalists, as part of investigations into a sexual assault of a student in the city. As per reports, the First Information Report (FIR) was available on a government website, and some journalists had downloaded the report in pursuit of professional work.

While the Guild adheres to the principle and the law that media cannot divulge any personal details of a victim of a sexual assault, we are also concerned by the manner in which investigation against journalists is being conducted by the Chennai police.

It has come to our notice that the summons were sent to journalists through WhatsApp, which as the Supreme Court has ruled as an invalid means of serving the legal notices. Further, the journalists have claimed that the questioning was intrusive.

The Guild demands the Chennai police immediately return all the devices of journalists, and to conduct the investigation in a manner not prejudicial to rights of journalists and press freedom.

In 2023, the Supreme Court, while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Foundation for Media Professionals (FMP), had instructed the central government to frame guidelines regarding search and seizure of digital devices of individuals, specifically journalists, in view of privacy threats and security of sensitive journalists’ data, posed by such operations conducted by law enforcement agencies. The guidelines are yet to be framed and presented to the Court.

The Guild also notes with concern that the devices of several journalists in the NewsClick case, seized by Delhi Police in 2023, have yet not been returned.

The Guild therefore urges the central government to frame guidelines regarding search and seizure of journalists at the earliest.

Sincerely,
Anant Nath, President
Ruben Banerjee, General Secretary
K Ve Prasad, Treasurer