What happened: MeitY review and restatement of India’s framework for children’s online safety
On 05.08.2026, the Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, submitted information to the Lok Sabha about children’s online safety. MeitY stated that digital technologies can expand access to education and communication, but children’s online activity can expose them to harmful content, cyberbullying, online exploitation and digital addiction. MeitY reported that global regulatory developments are examined while formulating or reviewing India’s domestic legal and policy frameworks.
Background and earlier position: India’s laws and policy approach
MeitY described an approach aimed at an open, safe, trusted and accountable internet. MeitY also stated that it uses consultations with stakeholders while examining the legal, policy and institutional framework for emerging cyberspace issues, in light of technological developments and public interest.
MeitY positioned the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 as the core framework that promotes digital well-being, user safeguards and responsible digital participation. Under the IT Rules, intermediaries are required to observe due diligence and to inform users that intermediaries should not host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, update or share information that is harmful to children or violates any law in force.
MeitY also stated that where a violation involves an offence under an applicable law (examples cited include the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 read with the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012), and such law mandates reporting, the intermediary must report the offence to the appropriate authority as per that law.
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