SHIELD Bill proposes social media restrictions for children in India

The Safeguarding Healthy Internet Environments for Little Digital-Natives (SHIELD) Bill, 2025, has faced delays in the Indian Parliament due to recent sessions being adjourned. Proposed by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, the private member's bill aims to implement stricter safeguards for children under 18, specifically targeting those under 13 regarding social media and online gaming.

Key provisions of the SHIELD Bill include requiring verified parental consent for children under 13 to create accounts and implementing mandatory age-verification systems. The legislation also seeks to prohibit digital platforms from tracking or profiling minors for personalized advertising.

To protect children from harmful content, the bill proposes measures to prevent exposure to pornography, gambling, violent or extremist material, and drug-related content. Furthermore, it calls for parental-control dashboards to allow guardians to monitor digital activity and manage screen time. Platforms found in violation could face financial penalties of up to ₹10 crore, with repeated offenses potentially leading to service suspensions under the Information Technology Act.