India discussing age-based restrictions with social media firms, top minister says

NEW DELHI — The Indian government is currently in discussions with social media companies regarding the implementation of age-based restrictions, as stated by Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday. During a press conference at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, Vaishnaw emphasized the growing consensus among nations that such restrictions are necessary. "This is something which has now been accepted by many countries, that age-based [restrictions] … has to be there," the minister remarked, highlighting the importance of safeguarding young users in the digital landscape. He mentioned that the conversations are focused on issues like deepfakes and how to effectively regulate them across various social media platforms. While the minister refrained from naming specific companies involved in these discussions, the potential impact of any regulatory measures could be significant, particularly for major players like Meta and Google, who have extensive user bases in India, a country of over 1.4 billion people. Although no definitive action has been taken yet, these comments mark a notable step from a high-ranking official in the Indian government. India's contemplation of age restrictions aligns it with a global trend, as more countries assess the necessity of limiting young users' access to social media. Following Australia's landmark decision in December to prohibit users under 16 from accessing major platforms, other nations are also considering similar actions. Denmark recently instituted a rule barring under-15s from social media, while Spain announced plans to restrict access for those under 16. In India, popular platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and YouTube attract hundreds of millions of users, making the government's potential policies a matter of keen interest for both citizens and industry stakeholders alike.