DPDP Act: Parents Prefer One-Time Consent for Children’s Data

Youth Ki Awaaz, a civic platform, released a new report on Tuesday on the implications of the DPDP Act, particularly focusing on verifiable parental consent (VPC) and reduced internet personalisation for children.

The key findings of the survey are that 77% of the 2,085 parents surveyed prefer a one-time, streamlined consent process that could be integrated directly into platforms such as app stores, reducing the need for constant approvals.

To be sure, Antigone Davis, head of global safety at social media company Meta, had also told ET in an interview on November 9 that verifying children’s ages at the Play Store or iOS store level was the best option for ensuring safe experiences for children.

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.

Based on a 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, 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.

Around 57% of parents agree that restricting personalisation would negatively impact their child’s online experience, the report said. 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, the report said.

Around 63% of 1,005 children surveyed feel uncomfortable with needing parental consent for every app or feature, with 26% citing privacy concerns, the report said. Many feel constant supervision restricts their independence, it said. Around 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 (for example, games, educational tools), the report said.

Anshul Tewari, founding chief executive, Youth Ki Awaaz, said, “Implementation of Section 9 of the DPDP Act should consider the realities of children’s digital experiences. This report 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 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 for families with lower digital literacy more feasible, the report said. 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 said.

It also recommends a balanced approach to content personalisation, allowing age-appropriate personalisation under transparent guidelines to ensure children’s developmental needs are met without compromising data safety while fostering a positive digital environment.