India, the largest data generator and market for global tech giants, is now preparing to take stringent legislative steps regarding the digital well-being of its youth and national security. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MP LSK Devarayalu has proposed a private member's bill in Parliament that advocates a complete ban on social media use for children under the age of 16.
In an interview with Reuters, MP Devarayalu highlighted a serious strategic concern. He stated that Indian children are not only becoming addicted to social media but are also unknowingly becoming free data miners for foreign companies. According to him, these large tech companies are using this data to build advanced AI systems, while Indian users receive no economic or strategic benefit from it.
Who is responsible for age verification?
The 15-page social media bill clearly states that it will be illegal for children under 16 to own or create social media accounts. The responsibility for verifying the age of anyone attempting to create an account will lie entirely with platforms like Meta, Google, and X. If a violation is found, the accounts will be immediately disabled. The bill also explicitly states that the use of Indian data for training foreign AI models is a concern that requires strict restrictions.
This move by India, following similar restrictions recently imposed in Australia (16 years) and France (15 years), is intensifying the ongoing global debate. India currently has approximately 750 million smartphone users, with no minimum age standard effectively enforced. Policy studies are also underway in countries like the UK, Denmark, and Greece.
Tech giants' silence and potential opposition
Meta has stated that it supports parental oversight but warned that strict restrictions could push children towards unsafe and unregulated platforms. Google (YouTube) and X have not yet responded.
Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Amar Ujala. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.
