New Delhi: WhatsApp has started testing a new age confirmation feature for some users in India, asking them to add their date of birth as part of preparations
for upcoming legal requirements. The feature is currently optional and does not affect access to the messaging platform, the company said.
The test follows as India is progressing towards enforcing rules on platforms that collect children’s personal data under the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act. India is the biggest market for WhatsApp, with over 600 million users.
WhatsApp says age check is for legal compliance
Screenshots shared online show a prompt asking users to enter their date of birth, stating that “upcoming laws in India require us to ask for your age.” Responding to media queries, a WhatsApp spokesperson said the company is testing “privacy-protective ways” to help users confirm their age in line with the DPDP Act.
The company stated the functionality is being tested, and users won’t be asked for their age to keep using WhatsApp. It also stated that user age data will not be shared with the other users and will not be visible.
India tightens focus on online safety
The DPDP Act includes provisions to ensure that platforms can check whether users are under 18 years old before processing child personal data. Several governments are also looking at tougher rules for age groups on online platforms, but messaging apps such as WhatsApp have yet to be included in some regulations, such as those in Australia, which restrict social media usage.
The age confirmation test is part of the growing regulatory pressure in India, as Facebook’s parent company, Meta, is targeted, Bloomberg reports. The company recently apologised over a temporary restriction on a Facebook post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On its own, the Centre has reportedly urged WhatsApp to postpone its new feature to provide users with usernames, citing the risk of impersonation and digital fraud.
