Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Union Minister for Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has emphasised the critical role of parental consent in safeguarding children in the digital realm.
As digital interactions grow, Vaishnaw stressed that ensuring children’s online safety requires a balanced approach—where the benefits of technology are accessible while the risks are minimised.
“As a child enrolls in school, or engages with a bank account or payment service, a digital footprint is already established. This becomes crucial in creating a framework for parental consent,” said Vaishnaw.
Vaishnaw explained that the government’s approach in the draft Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules leverages the existing digital infrastructure in place in India, particularly in sectors like education and banking, to ensure that parental consent can be given and verified without requiring manual intervention.
“This framework allows for a verifiable parental consent system that will function smoothly, ensuring that children can continue enjoying the benefits of digital technology while minimising potential harms,” he added.
For this system to succeed, collaboration between the government and industry stakeholders is crucial. Vaishnaw noted that the Indian government has engaged with the tech industry, and there is consensus that this approach to parental consent is a practical and effective solution.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) released the draft rules for the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act on Friday, January 3.
Passed by Parliament in August 2023, the DPDP Act aims to provide safeguards against the processing of personal data.
Watch accompanying video for entire conversation.