Meta, Google To Discuss Age-gating Norms With Indian Govt
Google and Meta are reportedly in talks for a discussion with the Indian government on the issue related to age verification and consent management for users below 18 years of age, according to media reports.
The critical issue is being pursued from a different perspectives by Meta and Google. Meta is planning to propose subsequent consent management architecture for the parents of users below 18 as an app-store-level check. While Google, in contrast, believes that the issue needs more than an option to implement age-gating and consent management as prescribed under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP).
According to reports, Google has opposed Meta’s suggestion and claimed that an app-store-level solution is an 'excuse'.
Age-gating is the process of restricting access to online content, services, or products that are inappropriate for a younger age.
The DPDP Act has already defined that social media or internet intermediaries must not process any data of any child without explicit parental consent. However, the IT ministry is yet to come out with the execution of the rules. But recently the ministry was in talks with the executive rules for the implementation of the law.
The ministry is planning a framework with multiple options for social media and internet intermediaries soon, ensuring age-gating and subsequent parental consent management, a report added.
