Intermediary liability

In the news

• Supreme Court: children have a fundamental right to access and use the internet 18 October 2026 · The Hindu

  Should children be kept offline to keep them safe? The Supreme Court says no: target the harm, not the child.

• Supreme Court asks Centre to frame rules to stop social media firms signing up minors 29 September 2026 · Indian Express

  If a minor cannot sign a contract, how is a 13-year-old agreeing to a platform's terms of service?

• Why the NCPCR has summoned Meta over ads linked to child sexual abuse material 13 September 2026 · Indian Express

  A child rights body can summon a tech giant, but can it make it act? The Meta case tests the limits.

Key facts

• On 15 October 2026 the Supreme Court held that the right to access and use the internet is a fundamental right under Article 21 read with Article 19(1)(a), for children as well as adults. (18 October 2026)
• The Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran rejected blanket bans, calling them 'unproven measures of proven disproportionality'. (18 October 2026)
• On 28 September 2026 the Supreme Court, in Just Rights for Children Alliance v Union of India, asked the Centre to frame statutory rules barring social media firms from enrolling minors. (29 September 2026)
• The reasoning: under Section 11 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 a minor cannot contract, and the Majority Act, 1875 fixes majority at 18. (29 September 2026)
• The NCPCR is a statutory body set up in March 2007 under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005. (13 September 2026)
• The NCPCR has a chairperson and six members, of whom at least two must be women, and it monitors implementation of the POCSO Act, 2012 and the RTE Act, 2009. (13 September 2026)

Previous-year questions

1. 2025 · GS2 · 15 marks The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has to address the challenges faced by children in the digital era. Examine the existing policies and suggest measures the Commission can initiate to tackle the…
2. 2024 · GS3 · 10 marks Describe the context and salient features of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
3. 2024 · GS3 · 15 marks Social media and encrypting messaging services pose a serious security challenge. What measures have been adopted at various levels to address the security implications of social media? Also suggest any other remedies…
4. 2017 · GS2 · 15 marks Examine the scope of Fundamental Rights in the light of the latest judgement of the Supreme Court on Right to Privacy.
5. 2018 · Prelims Right to Privacy is protected as an intrinsic part of Right to Life and Personal Liberty. Which of the following in the Constitution of India correctly and appropriately imply the above statement? (a) Article 14 and…