India’s digital-safety framework now combines intermediary due diligence, child-data protection, regulation of online gaming, and cyber-awareness campaigns. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology says these measures are meant to support an Open, Safe, Trusted and Accountable Internet, especially for children and young users.

What happened

The Union Government informed Lok Sabha on 22 July 2026 that India already has a legal and institutional framework to address digital addiction, harmful content, and child online safety. The framework draws on the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025.

Background and earlier position

India’s online-governance framework has developed in layers. The Information Technology Act, 2000 created the basic legal structure for electronic records, intermediary liability, and punishment for certain cyber offences. The IT Rules, 2021 expanded intermediary due diligence and platform responsibilities. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 then added a child-specific privacy layer by restricting processing of children’s digital personal data and requiring parental consent.

The government also linked the issue to the Economic Survey 2025-26, which described digital addiction as a serious public health challenge for children and youth. The survey highlighted links with attention loss, poorer academic outcomes, reduced workplace productivity, social isolation, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, cyberbullying, and financial losses from compulsive gaming, social media use, and online gambling.

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