India's Supreme Court asks Centre to make social media rules for minors statutory

On September 28, India's Supreme Court told the Centre that guidelines for minors' social media accounts must take a statutory form, including an 18-year minimum age for independent registration. The petition, filed by NGO JRCA, seeks age verification and parental consent rather than an internet ban. From May 13, 2027, DPDP Rules will already require verifiable parental consent for users under 18.

• Court says rules must be statutory, not mere guidelines
• From May 13, 2027, DPDP Rules require verifiable parental consent for under-18s
• JRCA petition seeks age verification and parental consent, not an internet ban
• Australia removed 4.7 million accounts within a month of its under-16 ban