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Government reviews global child safety rules for India’s digital laws
Vaishnaw says Centre studies global models as IT Rules and DPDP Act tighten online child safeguards
MUMBAI: The internet may have no borders, but protecting children online is increasingly becoming a global balancing act. Now, India is looking abroad while rewriting the rules at home.
The Union government is examining international approaches to children’s online safety as it reviews India’s digital policy and legal framework, Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
Responding to a parliamentary question, Vaishnaw said the government studies regulatory measures adopted in other jurisdictions while framing domestic policy, but evaluates them through the lens of India’s constitutional framework, legal requirements, technological ecosystem, user safety, privacy, innovation and digital inclusion.
He said the government continues to adopt a consultative approach by engaging stakeholders while addressing emerging challenges in cyberspace.
Vaishnaw told Parliament that the Information Technology Act, 2000, along with the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, forms the backbone of India’s legal framework for digital well-being, user protection and responsible online participation.
Under these rules, intermediaries are required to exercise due diligence, inform users against hosting or sharing unlawful content—including material harmful to children—and report offences requiring mandatory reporting under laws such as the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, to the appropriate authorities.
The minister also highlighted recent amendments to the IT Rules, under which social media platforms and other intermediaries must remove unlawful content within three hours of receiving an order from a competent court or a reasoned direction from the appropriate government or its authorised agency.
On data privacy, Vaishnaw said the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 strengthens safeguards for children by mandating parental consent before processing children’s personal data while prohibiting practices such as tracking, behavioural monitoring and targeted advertising aimed at minors.
The government has also expanded its digital awareness initiatives. According to the minister, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s Information Security Education and Awareness (ISEA) project has organised 6,650 workshops across the country, reaching more than 11.37 lakh participants, including students, teachers, law enforcement officials, government personnel and members of the public.
He added that multilingual awareness campaigns including handbooks, posters, brochures, videos and child-friendly educational content—have been disseminated through print, electronic and social media platforms. Meanwhile, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) continues to issue cyber safety advisories and awareness material on a regular basis.
Vaishnaw also pointed to complementary initiatives by the Ministry of Education, including the PRAGYATA Guidelines, CBSE’s cyber safety programmes and NCERT’s curriculum on cyber safety, all aimed at encouraging responsible digital behaviour among students.
The government’s remarks come amid heightened scrutiny of child safety on digital platforms. Last month, MeitY issued a notice to Meta after a BBC Eye investigation alleged that advertisements promoting or facilitating child sexual exploitation and abuse material (CSEAM) had appeared on Instagram. The ministry sought an explanation from the company and has since said it is reviewing Meta’s response.
Separately, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has launched an inquiry into the alleged appearance of such advertisements on Meta’s platforms, adding further momentum to the debate around online child protection and platform accountability in India.
