India's government has made online safety for children a priority, with Minister of Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw announcing plans to address harms arising from social media and AI-generated content.
Concerns over the impact of social media on children and the spread of harmful content online have led to growing calls for stronger measures, with several countries banning or moving to ban social media for teenagers.
The government has stated that existing laws, including the IT Act and the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, already impose obligations on social media platforms to prevent the hosting or sharing of unlawful or harmful content.
Additionally, the DPDP framework mandates safeguards for children's personal data, including verifiable parental consent and restrictions on tracking and targeted advertising directed at children.
The government has also highlighted concerns about technology-enabled offences targeting women, including cyberbullying, harassment, and the misuse of deepfake technology.
