<h5>What is the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill about?</h5><p>Union Communications, Electronics, and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently presented the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill, 2023, in the Lok Sabha. It was passed in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.</p><p>The DPDP Bill aims to manage and protect the use and storage of data as part of the right to privacy. It also establishes various rights for citizens and company obligations regarding the data they collect. You can read all about it <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.newsahoot.com/articles/explainer-indias-new-data-protection-bill">here</a>. But specific changes have been made regarding how the bill protects children.</p><div class="raw-html-embed"><figure> <iframe width="100%" height="350" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6vNxslcf9AE" title="Data Protection and Privacy" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><figcaption>A video about data protection and privacy. Video by UNCTAD.</figcaption></figure></div><h5>What are the changes made that affect children?</h5><p>The DPDP Bill restricts children's internet access. The bill defines a child as someone who has not reached the age of 18. The bill says online platforms must get "verifiable parental consent" before collecting a child's data. The bill also mentions that websites and online platforms are not allowed to collect any data about a child that can have a negative effect on them.</p><p>However, the “negative effects” have not been specified. So, everything from online bullying to discrimination can fall under it. So, parents and guardians can hold online platforms responsible for any harm caused to a child by their data collection activities.</p><p>The bill also prevents websites from monitoring children's internet data. For example, websites send targeted ads based on someone’s search history. A website cannot do so for someone if they are a child. But, certain websites have been excluded from this rule.</p><p>If the government believes that a particular website is safely processing data, it can track children’s data in a certain age group. It will also be exempted from obtaining parental permission to collect data. This can help all those websites that allow children to gain knowledge and grow.</p><p>Failure to follow any of the rules regarding children's data may result in a fine of up to Rs. 200 crores.</p><h5>What do experts say about the changes?</h5><p>Some experts have criticised some of the changes. They feel rules should have been made based on an approach in which children aged 13 to 16 are treated differently than those under the age of 13. They do not want all children clubbed under the same rules.</p><p>Some experts say that there are parents who learn how to use the internet from their children. So, they are not sure whether such parents can make decisions about which websites are good or bad for their children. This is why digital literacy must be considered before adding the rule on parental consent.</p>

The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill was recently passed in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

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How the DPDP Bill Affects Children's Internet Use

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