The court targeted a dedicated ‘child mode’ on social media platforms to provide age appropriate digital experiences and reduce children’s exposure to harmful content
Children have fundamental right to access internet: Supreme Court: Children have fundamental right to access and use the internet. A bench of the apex court refused to impose blanket-age based restrictions on internet access. A Bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran emphasised that protecting children from online risks should not come at the cost of their fundamental freedoms.
The court took a practical view that children continue to use the internet despite legal restrictions, often secretly. This could expose them to other platforms or websites that are unregulated or even more unsafe. The court also noted that children who are sexually abused, threatened or manipulated online may hesitate to seek help because they fear punishment or consequences for breaking internet rules.
While rejecting blanket restrictions, the court called for a stricter system to protect children from online sexual exploitation. It stressed the need for faster identification and removal of child sexual abuse material from digital platforms. The court emphasised that children’s safety and their freedom to use the internet can be protected together. It said measures designed to safeguard minors should not end up taking away their fundamental rights.
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The court targeted a dedicated ‘child mode’ on social media platforms to provide age appropriate digital experiences and reduce children’s exposure to harmful content. The focus, therefore, should be on making online spaces safer rather than simply preventing children from using the internet because of their age.
