India needs a dedicated legal framework to protect children from online harms, with stronger accountability for digital platforms, age-appropriate safeguards, and privacy protections, according to a report published by NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, and the Indian Governance and Policy Project.
Titled “The Child Safety Imperative: Age-Appropriate Digital Governance Pathways for India,” the report states that restricting children’s access to social media alone may not adequately address online risks.
Instead, it recommends combining age-appropriate access measures with enforceable obligations on platforms to make their services safer for children.
The report was prepared under the academic leadership and supervision of NALSAR Vice-Chancellor Professor Srikrishna Deva Rao, Professor Krishna Ravi Srinivas, Director of the university’s Centre of Excellence in AI and Law, and Dr D Bala Krishna, Coordinator of the Centre for Child and Youth Justice.
This report comes amid growing international debate over minimum-age requirements for social media accounts and technology companies’ responsibility to protect young users.
These recommendations are crucial for children in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to be protected from online dangers. It is essential for governments and platforms to take appropriate measures to ensure their safety in the digital world.