To safeguard the privacy of young users, the government has released a draft of the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules.
The draft includes a provision that demands that children under 18 get parental consent to create social media accounts.
Public consultations on the draft rules will continue until February 18, 2025.
In today’s digital age, children are more connected than ever, but this comes with risks. To safeguard the privacy of young users, the government has released a draft of the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules. The draft includes a provision that demands that children under 18 get parental consent to create social media accounts.
Let’s delve into the details.
What the draft rules say
The draft states, “Draft of rules proposed to be made by the central government in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 40 of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (22 of 2023), on or after the date of coming into force of the Act, are hereby published for the information of all persons likely to be affected thereby.”
The rules also address data breaches, requiring affected individuals to be informed about the nature of the breach, its consequences, and any mitigation measures. However, the draft does not mention specific penalties for violations.
Also read: Social media ban coming for Australians under 16, check details
Public consultations on the draft rules will continue until February 18, 2025. After this date, the government will finalise the rules based on the feedback received. The notification clarifies, “…notice is hereby given that the said draft rules shall be taken into consideration after 18th February, 2025.”
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has invited the public to share their objections and suggestions regarding the draft rules on the government’s MyGov.in platform.
Ever since global discussions around children’s online safety gained momentum, countries have been exploring stricter measures to protect young users. India’s draft rules reflect this growing awareness and mark a significant step toward creating a safer digital environment for children.
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Ayushi Jain
Tech news writer by day, BGMI player by night. Combining my passion for tech and gaming to bring you the latest in both worlds. View Full Profile
