Children below the age of 13 may need verified parental consent to create accounts on social media and online gaming platforms under a proposed private member's bill introduced in Parliament.
The Safeguarding Healthy Internet Environments for Little Digital-Natives (SHIELD) Bill, 2025, introduced by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, seeks to establish tighter safeguards for children using digital platforms.
The proposed legislation calls for mandatory age-verification mechanisms on platforms accessible to children. It also proposes parental-control dashboards that would allow guardians to monitor online activity, manage privacy settings and set limits on screen time.
The bill was among two private members' bills scheduled to be introduced in Parliament on Friday. However, the proposed legislation could not be taken up due to repeated adjournments of the House.
Under the SHIELD Bill, a child would be defined as a person below 18 years of age, while specific restrictions would apply to children below 13 seeking to create accounts on social media and online gaming platforms.
The legislation also seeks to prevent digital platforms from tracking or profiling children and using their personal data for personalised advertising.
Platforms would additionally be required to take measures to prevent children from accessing pornography, gambling and simulated betting, violent or extremist material and drug-related content.
The proposed framework would place specific safety obligations on social media platforms, online gaming services and other digital intermediaries that provide services accessible to children.
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Companies found violating the proposed provisions could face penalties of up to ₹10 crore. Repeated or wilful violations could also result in temporary suspension or blocking of services under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act.
The bill comes amid growing concerns over children's exposure to harmful online content, excessive screen time, targeted advertising and the collection of personal data by digital platforms.
However, as a private member's bill, the legislation faces a long path before it could become law. Such bills are rarely passed by Parliament, with only a small number becoming legislation since Independence.
A second private member's bill scheduled for introduction alongside the SHIELD Bill seeks to address the misuse of artificial intelligence to create realistic imitations of individuals.
Together, the proposed measures reflect growing parliamentary attention to emerging digital risks, particularly those involving children and rapidly evolving artificial intelligence technologies.
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