| Introduction: Brief outlay of Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2022. Body: Significance of data protection for children in the context of the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill Conclusion: Way forward. |
The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2022 provides legal data protection for personal data obtained from various sources. It highlights that personal data may be processed only for a lawful purpose upon the consent of an individual. The Bill grants certain rights to individuals including the right to obtain information, seek correction and erasure, and grievance redressal.
Significance of data protection for children in the context of the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill:
- Online safety and privacy: Children constitute around 15 percent of active internet users in India with activities ranging from e-learning, gaming, and content creation using popular social media platforms. This makes the issue of online safety and privacy vital for them.
- Access to Internet: The clause of parental consent for every individual below 18 will make it difficult for young adults and adolescents to freely access the internet. This may limit their access to popular social sites like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and Snapchat.
- Easy access to data: Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023, allows users to have complete access to their data. The bill further prohibits behavioral monitoring of children and targeted advertising directed at children. This provision ensures a safer digital space for children.
- Target misleading promotions: The DPDP Bill restricts targeted digital advertisements that could adversely affect children’s health and well-being in a variety of ways. For example, food marketing may encourage the consumption of unhealthy foods and drinks, which contributes to childhood obesity.
How does the bill aim to protect the interests and rights of children?
- Parental consent: The bill mandates parental consent for children below 18 years accessing social media sites. The government could lower the age for certain digital services which may not carry significant privacy risks. These could include services like web search, online encyclopedias, and others that children may access for educational purposes.
- Age verification: The intent of the bill in safeguarding children’s rights is a step in the right direction, ambiguity exists regarding age verification. Knowledge-based tests like puzzles, maths quizzes, and Question and Answers could be used to assess the age of a child.
- Exemptions: The DPDP Bill allows the government to exempt entities from the requirement of parental consent and tracking and targeting ads for specific purposes. E.g., services like ed-tech.
Conclusion:
The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022 should aim for open, safe, trusted, and accountable internet for India’s netizens with a special focus on protecting the rights and interests of children.
