Now Reading: Supreme Court asks Centre to examine statutory safeguards for minors on social media
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Supreme Court asks Centre to examine statutory safeguards for minors on social media
Supreme Court asks Centre to examine statutory safeguards for minors on social media
The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to examine whether a statutory framework can be created to ensure social media platforms comply with Indian laws governing minors, including the bar on children…
The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to examine whether a statutory framework can be created to ensure social media platforms comply with Indian laws governing minors, including the bar on children under 18 entering into contracts. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant heard a petition by the NGO Just Rights for Children Alliance, which argues that contracts minors sign when creating accounts are void under Section 11 of the Indian Contract Act.
The court said safeguards must be incorporated into intermediary rules, not remain voluntary guidelines. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench that "something can be done, something should be done and will be done". Separately, MeitY has begun consultations to draft an SOP for reporting child sexual abuse material online, after the court gave it a last opportunity to file a compliance report. The next hearing is on October 15.
Indian Opinion Analysis
All three sources report the Supreme Court's direction to the Centre uniformly, differing only in emphasis. Rediff.com highlights the legal argument that minor contracts are void under existing law, while Livemint.com frames the issue as tighter checks rather than a blanket ban. Hindustan Times adds context by reporting the government's parallel move to draft an SOP for reporting child sexual abuse material, linking the two cases. This suggests the Court is pushing for enforceable statutory rules, not voluntary guidelines. The government's response will clarify whether parental consent and age verification become mandatory for all platforms. The next hearing is on October 15.
Coverage: 3 sources, 3 neutral
Sources (3): rediff.com (neutral report), hindustantimes.com (neutral report), livemint.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
