The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Centre seeking its response within four weeks on a petition seeking stronger safeguards for children against Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM) on online platforms.
The plea, filed by the Just Rights for Children Alliance, calls for changes to existing digital rules so children below 18 cannot independently enter into contracts with digital platforms and seeks legally recognised parental or guardian involvement, including verification or e-KYC, where minors access online services. During the hearing, Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that “firewalls are very necessary for children”, underscoring the need for stronger digital protection.
The petition has also raised concerns over online grooming, sexual exploitation, trafficking, cyberbullying, behavioural profiling, misuse of personal data and exposure to age-inappropriate content. It further questions whether social media platforms are adequately complying with their reporting and due diligence responsibilities under the Information Technology Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
‘Firewalls Necessary’ For Children
The Supreme Court’s intervention comes amid growing concerns over the ability of children to navigate online spaces that were largely designed without adequate safeguards for young users. During the hearing, Justice Joymalya Bagchi stressed the importance of protective barriers, observing that “firewalls are very necessary for children”. The court has now sought the Centre’s response within four weeks, setting the stage for a closer examination of the existing regulatory framework governing children’s online safety.
The petition argues that children are particularly vulnerable to risks that can emerge from unrestricted access to digital platforms. These include online grooming, where offenders build relationships with children for sexual exploitation, as well as trafficking and the circulation of abusive material. The plea also points to cyberbullying and the possibility of platforms using children’s online activity to create behavioural profiles. Such profiling, it argues, can expose minors to further privacy risks and targeted content.
At the heart of the petition is the argument that children should not be treated in the same way as adults when entering contractual relationships with digital platforms. The petitioners want the law to recognise the role of parents or guardians in such arrangements, particularly when minors are permitted to use online services.
Petition Seeks Digital Accountability
The Just Rights for Children Alliance has sought amendments to existing digital rules to introduce stronger protections for users below 18. One of its key demands is that minors should not be able to independently enter into contracts with digital platforms. Instead, where children are permitted to access such services, parental or guardian involvement should have legal recognition.
The petition has also proposed mechanisms such as parental verification or electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) processes. The broader objective is to establish a system through which platforms can identify whether a user is a minor and ensure that appropriate safeguards are activated.
The plea also raises questions about the responsibilities of social media and other online platforms under India’s existing legal framework. It specifically flags concerns over compliance with reporting and due diligence requirements under the IT Act and POCSO Act. The petitioners contend that stronger enforcement and clearer obligations are necessary to prevent digital platforms from becoming spaces where children can be exposed to exploitation.
The issue is particularly significant because online abuse can have consequences beyond the immediate circulation of harmful material. Grooming, manipulation, bullying and inappropriate exposure can affect a child’s safety, privacy and emotional well-being, while the misuse of personal information can create risks that continue long after a child leaves a platform.
Protecting Children Online
The Supreme Court’s notice does not, by itself, amount to a final ruling on the safeguards sought by the petitioners. The Centre will first have an opportunity to respond to the concerns and proposed changes. The proceedings could therefore become an important examination of how India’s child-protection laws and digital regulations should work together as children’s participation in online spaces continues to grow.
The case also brings attention to a difficult policy question: how can children benefit from the educational, social and creative opportunities offered by the internet without being left exposed to its most harmful elements? Blanket restrictions may not always be practical, while leaving children to navigate online risks entirely on their own can place an unreasonable burden on them.
Effective protection may instead require cooperation between the government, technology companies, parents, educators, child-rights organisations and young people themselves. Platforms may need to design safer systems by default, while parents and guardians require meaningful tools to understand and manage children’s digital experiences. At the same time, children need age-appropriate awareness about privacy, consent, manipulation and reporting harmful behaviour.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Children deserve the freedom to learn, explore and connect online without having to carry the responsibility of protecting themselves from adults and systems designed to exploit their vulnerabilities. The Supreme Court’s observation that “firewalls are very necessary for children” is a reminder that digital safety cannot depend solely on a child’s ability to recognise danger.
Stronger safeguards, responsible platform design, meaningful parental involvement and effective enforcement must work together, while preserving children’s legitimate access to the opportunities technology provides. Protecting children online should ultimately be a shared responsibility rooted in empathy, accountability and respect for their dignity. What measures do you think India should prioritise to make the internet safer for children without limiting their right to learn and participate online?
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