New Delhi, 13 November 2024: Youth Ki Awaaz, a leading citizen-driven civic tech platform, has
released a new report on the implications of the Digital Personal Data
Protection Act (DPDP) 2023, particularly focusing on verifiable parental
consent (VPC) and reduced internet personalization for children. Based on a
comprehensive survey of over 3,000 parents and children across India, the
report highlights significant concerns about the challenges of balancing data
privacy, parental control, and the practicalities of ensuring a safe but
enriching digital experience for children.
The report titled “Balancing
Consent & Customisation under the DPDP Act 2023: India’s Youth &
Parents on Parental Consent & Internet Personalisation,” sheds light on
how families perceive parental oversight, privacy, and internet use. The
findings aim to inform policymakers working to implement Section 9 of the
DPDP Act, which mandates parental consent for children’s data processing
and restricts personalized content for minors under 18.
Read the full report
here.
Key Findings:
Parental Consent
Challenges: 77% of parents prefer
a one-time, streamlined consent process that could be integrated directly
into platforms such as app stores, reducing the need for constant approvals.
Lack of Digital
Literacy: The report also highlighted
concerns from parents, especially those from low-income backgrounds or
first-time internet users, who find the current consent process burdensome and
hard to navigate.
Parental Concerns: 57% of parents agree that restricting personalisation
would negatively impact their child’s online experience.
Impact on
Learning: Parents fear that the
current system, which requires frequent consent, could hinder their children’s
ability to freely access educational resources, particularly as children grow
older and require more independence in their online activities.
Children’s
Discomfort: 63% of children feel
uncomfortable with needing parental consent for every app or feature, with 26%
citing privacy concerns. Many feel constant supervision restricts their
independence.
Children’s
Experience: 54% of children
believe removing personalised content would negatively affect their overall
internet experience, and 71% of children find personalised ads helpful
for discovering relevant content (e.g., games, educational tools).
Commenting on the
report findings, Anshul Tewari, Founder and CEO, Youth Ki Awaaz, said,
“Implementing Section 9 of the DPDP Act needs to consider the realities of
children’s digital experiences. This report provides actionable insights that
can aid in developing inclusive policies supporting both privacy and a vibrant
internet experience for young users, creating a more practical and
user-friendly approach to child safety and data privacy.”
Need for a
One-Time Consent Mechanism
The report suggests
a flexible and streamlined, one-time consent mechanism that would streamline
the management of their children’s internet access. This mechanism, integrated
into digital platforms like the Play Store or App Store, would reduce friction
while ensuring compliance with the DPDP Act’s requirements more feasible for
families with lower digital literacy. Such a solution would not only ease the
burden on parents but also allow children more autonomy, particularly in their
educational and skill-building activities.
It also recommends a
balanced approach to content personalization, allowing age-appropriate
personalization under transparent guidelines to ensure children’s developmental
needs are met without compromising data safety while fostering a positive
digital environment.
About Youth Ki
Awaaz
Youth Ki Awaaz is
India’s largest civic tech platform that amplifies youth voices through
surveys, storytelling, and public dialogue. With a community of over 180,000
young contributors and 10 million monthly readers, Youth Ki Awaaz advocates for
change and empowers the next generation to shape policy and public discourse.
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