Modi hails Australia’s social media ban on minors, signals curbs, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised Australia's social media ban for minors, signaling India's intent to implement similar restrictions.
• Australia's Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act, 2024 mandates social media platforms to detect and block access for children under 16.
• Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, confirmed ongoing discussions for age-based restrictions in India.
• Indian states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are also exploring laws to regulate children's social media use.

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Detailed Insights:

• The Australian law, passed in November 2024, requires social media companies to implement age verification systems and imposes significant penalties for non-compliance.
• India is considering a "graded" approach, allowing some access while blocking specific content categories based on a minor's age.
• The proposed Indian curbs could be introduced through new legislation or amendments to the existing Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is actively involved in these policy discussions.
• Andhra Pradesh is researching best practices from countries such as Singapore, Australia, and Denmark to develop its legal and technological framework.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act, 2024: An Australian law that prohibits individuals under 16 from holding accounts on certain social media platforms.
• Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021: Indian regulations governing digital media content and the due diligence required from social media intermediaries.
• Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY): The nodal ministry of the Government of India responsible for IT policy, electronic governance, and internet-related matters.