India is preparing to implement age assurance checks as part of its child safety regulations under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, which takes effect on May 13, 2027. However, experts and advocacy groups argue that this approach addresses symptoms rather than the root causes of harm to children online, according to medianama.com.
The debate centers on the design of age checks, which are intended to protect children by restricting their access to certain digital services. SFLC.in and other experts contend that age assurance leaves the underlying platform architecture unchanged, potentially perpetuating harm. Unlike in the US or Europe, a significant number of Indian children act as intermediaries for adults in accessing digital public services, meaning age gates can inadvertently block adults as well as children, medianama.com reports.
This issue is unique to India, where the reliance on children for digital access complicates the implementation of age verification. The government’s consultation process has rejected outright bans on children’s access and instead focused on age gating, platform design duties, and a code of conduct. Critics emphasize that the harm often arises from the age check itself rather than the content or service being restricted, highlighting the challenge of balancing protection with accessibility in the Indian context.
Section 9 of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, which governs the processing of children’s personal data, will come into force on May 13, 2027, making the design of effective and inclusive age assurance mechanisms a pressing policy question for Indian regulators, medianama.com states.