3 weeks ago
WhatsApp tests age confirmation in India ahead of privacy rules
WhatsApp is a popular messaging app used by many people, including kids, in India.
The Indian government is bringing in a new law called the Digital Personal Data Protection Act.
This law is meant to keep children's information safe online.
To follow this law, WhatsApp is testing a way for people to confirm how old they are.
Right now, the test is optional, so you can still use WhatsApp without confirming your age.
WhatsApp says it will not share anyone's age with other users.
It also says the app will work just the same as before.
Many other countries are also thinking about age limits for social media.
This testing is happening while India's government reviews Meta, the company that owns WhatsApp, over a post by PM Modi that was briefly removed from Facebook.
WhatsApp is testing optional age confirmation in India to comply with the upcoming Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act).
The DPDP Act includes children's data protection provisions that may require platforms to verify whether users are under 18.
A WhatsApp spokesperson said age information is private and will not be shared with other WhatsApp users.
Many governments worldwide are introducing or considering age restrictions for social media users, especially those under 16.
The testing comes as Meta faces scrutiny in India after PM Modi's post was briefly removed from Facebook, and the government has restricted WhatsApp's upcoming username feature.
- Who
- WhatsApp (owned by Meta), its users in India, and regulators enforcing the Digital Personal Data Protection Act
- What
- WhatsApp is testing optional, privacy-protective age confirmation ahead of India's new data protection law; the government also restricted the rollout of WhatsApp's upcoming username feature
- Where
- India
- When
- Currently, with a government meeting involving Meta underway on August 6
- Why
- To comply with the DPDP Act, which includes children's data protection provisions that may require age verification for users under 18
Key facts
- Company
- WhatsApp (owned by Meta)
- Feature
- Age confirmation, currently optional and in testing
- Regulation
- Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act)
- Age threshold
- Users under 18 (children's safeguards)
- Privacy promise
- Age information will not be shared with other WhatsApp users
- Global context
- Governments worldwide introducing or considering age restrictions, especially for users under 16
- Background
- Meta facing scrutiny after PM Modi's post was briefly removed from Facebook
- Other restriction
- Indian government restricted rollout of WhatsApp's upcoming username feature
Quotes
WhatsApp spokesperson
Representative of WhatsApp
“To comply with upcoming laws in India like the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, we are testing privacy-protective ways for people to confirm their age.”
businesstoday.in
“We understand that information about someone’s age is private, and it won’t be shared with other WhatsApp users.”
businesstoday.in
Sources
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