New Data Protection Rules: Minors Require Parental Consent for Social Media

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The draft regulations under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act reaffirm that children under 18 must obtain verifiable consent from their parents or guardians before accessing social media platforms. Released by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on January 3, 2025 these rules are open for public feedback until February 18, 2025.

The regulations state that data fiduciaries, including social media intermediaries and other online platforms must implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure parental consent is secured before processing any personal data of minors. This also includes verifying the identity and age of the parent giving consent.

Moreover, the draft regulations highlight that significant data fiduciaries are required to conduct annual Data Protection Impact Assessments and submit their results to the Data Protection Board. The primary goal of these rules is to enhance the protection of children's personal data in the digital space, ensuring their privacy is maintained while using online services.