A petition seeking an age-based ban on children using websites came up for hearing before the Supreme Court on Thursday.
A bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran observed that using the internet is a fundamental right, and that children too are entitled to access websites under the Constitution.
The judges said children’s safety and their freedom are not mutually opposed. They noted that denying access in the name of protection would be unreasonable.
Instead of imposing a blanket ban, the court suggested strengthening safety protocols on social media platforms, such as introducing or improving “child mode” features.
