Data law sparks child safety concerns

Meta Platforms Inc and Google's parent Alphabet Inc have raised concerns about proposed Indian rules barring tech giants from monitoring internet browsing by children under 18, saying it will make safety filters ineffective, according to three executives privy to the discussions.

- Shouvik Das

"The DPDP Act's rules include an exemption that allows social media intermediaries to use the age of a user as part of the data that the platform can use to identify them. But, simply using age would not be enough to enforce safety filters, such as preventing unrelated adults from contacting underage users online," a senior executive at a top Big Tech firm told Mint, requesting anonymity.

"While the aspect of respecting a user's privacy is necessary, there needs to be some form of risk- or harm-based approach to regulating children's sanctity online—which is one of the biggest challenges that India's privacy law will pose," the executive said.

Google, Meta and the ministry of electronics and information technology (Meity) did not immediately respond to emailed queries.

Big Tech's response during the consultation process to formulate rules for the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 signals lack of consensus even two years after the Indian Parliament passed the law. The Act, aimed at safeguarding the personal data of India's 1.4 billion-plus citizens, is still to be enacted as the final rules are being drafted.

The draft rules were published at the start of this year. Public consultations began in January and were scheduled to end on 15 February, but were extended until Wednesday.