Prelims – Current events national and International importance | Polity and Governance
Why in News?
Recently the Supreme Court ruled that children have a fundamental right to the internet under Articles 21 and 19(1)(a), rejecting blanket bans in favor of targeted safety safeguards.
- Constitutional Provisions – Article 21 guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, while Article 19(1)(a) guarantees freedom of speech and expression.
- Fundamental Rights of Children – Children enjoy fundamental rights irrespective of their age, including the right to access and use the internet.
- Blanket Restrictions – The Court observed that blanket bans are disproportionate and have not been proven effective in making children safer online.
- Parental Supervision – It emphasised parental consent, guidance and supervision of children's access to social media platforms.
- Child Mode – The Court suggested dedicated child-mode accounts with age-appropriate content moderation and proportionate safety measures.
- Online Safety – Excessive restrictions may push children towards unregulated platforms and discourage them from reporting online abuse due to fear of punishment.
- POCSO Act, 2012 – The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act aims to protect children against sexual offences and provides a legal framework for addressing such abuse.
- Stakeholders in Digital Safety –
- Social media intermediaries, law enforcement agencies,
- Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY),
- Parents and courts have a role in protecting children online.
Reference
The Hindu| Children’s Right to Internet Access
