Digital addiction safeguards strengthened as government expands cyber awareness
New Delhi: The government said it has strengthened safeguards against Digital addiction by expanding cyber awareness programmes, tightening online safety measures and protecting children’s privacy. It also informed Parliament that more than 11.37 lakh people have participated in 6,650 cyber awareness workshops across the country.
Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared the details in a written reply in the Lok Sabha. Moreover, he said the government’s policies aim to ensure an open, safe, trusted and accountable internet for all users, including children.
The government said the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Information Technology Rules, 2021, require intermediaries to remove unlawful content and protect children online. Therefore, recent amendments now require social media platforms to remove unlawful content within three hours of receiving valid government or court directions.
The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, also strengthens children’s online privacy. Furthermore, it requires parental consent before processing children’s personal data and prohibits tracking, behavioural monitoring and targeted advertising directed at children.
Digital addiction measures include stronger online safety
The government said it disabled 50 OTT platforms during the past two years for displaying obscene content under the Information Technology Act and other legal provisions. In addition, it introduced the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, to address Digital addiction and reduce financial harm among young users.
Officials said the Economic Survey 2025-26 identified Digital addiction as a major public health challenge for children and young adults. Consequently, the government expanded awareness campaigns through the Information Security Education and Awareness project, CERT-In, CBSE and NCERT.
The government also published multilingual awareness material, cyber safety handbooks, videos and online resources. Finally, it said these initiatives aim to strengthen cyber hygiene, improve online safety and promote responsible digital behaviour across the country.
