BJP MP Baijayant Panda has introduced a private member bill, the SHIELD Bill, 2025, aimed at strengthening online safeguards for children. The proposal would prohibit children under 13 from creating accounts on social media and online gaming platforms without verified parental consent, and would require platforms to provide tools such as parental control dashboards.
The bill also lays out platform obligations to protect children from harmful content, including exposure to pornography, gambling or simulated betting, violent or extremist material, and drug-related content. It further seeks measures such as age verification and restrictions tied to personalised advertising. Outlets note that the SHIELD Bill has previously stalled twice before reaching this proposal stage.
While the coverage focuses on a potential ban-like approach for under-13 users, the common thread across reports is the emphasis on platform duties—verification, parental controls, content safeguards—and the inclusion of penalties for intermediaries if requirements are not met.
