The Central Government of India has made a landmark decision to regulate social media usage for teenagers. According to a draft released under the Digital Data Protection Act, teenagers under the age of 18 will no longer be allowed to create social media accounts on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. This significant move is aimed at curbing juvenile crime and ensuring better protection of personal data.
The Digital Data Protection Act is set to come into effect on January 5. The draft, issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, introduces several important provisions. Under the new law, minors will be able to create social media accounts only with parental consent. This law may even apply to states like Assam.
This Act is a first of its kind in India and comes after over a year of deliberations following the approval of the Digital Data Protection Bill 2023 by Parliament. The government is inviting public feedback on the draft until February 18.
Key highlights of the draft rules include:
- Parental Consent: Teenagers under 18 will need parental approval to open social media accounts.
- Protection of Digital Data: The new rules aim to strengthen the legal framework for safeguarding personal data, particularly children’s data.
- Data Fiduciaries: Only certain entities like healthcare providers and educational institutions will be allowed to process children’s personal data under strict restrictions.
- Consent Managers: The rules specify the role of consent managers, responsible for ensuring that data processing complies with the law.
- Penalties: While the draft doesn’t mention penalties for violations under the DPDP Act, the law itself allows fines of up to Rs 250 crore for data fiduciaries.
In addition, the rules define how government bodies can issue benefits, services, or licenses based on personal data, although penalties for violations are still unclear.
This draft marks an important step in ensuring the safety of digital users, especially minors, and setting up a more regulated environment for social media use in India.
Stay tuned for more updates and make sure to share your feedback before February 18.
এনেধৰণৰ অন্যান্য বা-বাতৰিৰ বাবে লাইক কৰক অসম লাইভ ২৪ ৰ ফেচবুক পেজ
