Can you photograph and publish people in public in India?

India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 defines personal data as any data about an individual who is identifiable by or in relation to that data. A person may process it only for a lawful purpose with the individual's consent or for certain legitimate uses.

Sources: Gazette of India: Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (MeitY)

Checked against the official source on October 6, 2026.

The Act does not apply to personal data processed by an individual for a personal or domestic purpose, or to personal data the person made publicly available themselves. Its illustration is someone who blogs her own views and shares her own data on social media. Check which provisions are in force and how they apply to publishing photos of others.

Sources: Gazette of India: Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (MeitY)

Checked against the official source on October 6, 2026.