French President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed India’s move toward stricter online safety regulations, praising New Delhi for “joining the movement” as the government explores age-based social media restrictions and stronger measures to combat the growing threat of deepfakes. The remarks come as India intensifies discussions with major technology platforms on tightening digital safeguards, particularly to protect children and address emerging risks linked to artificial intelligence.
Union IT and Information & Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the government is actively consulting social media companies and digital platforms on introducing age-based access controls and strengthening regulatory frameworks to tackle manipulated content. Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit, Vaishnaw emphasised that deepfakes represent a rapidly escalating problem and called for significantly stronger rules to protect society from misinformation and online harm. He noted that the government is working to identify an appropriate regulatory approach while building political consensus through Parliament, adding that a parliamentary committee has already examined the issue in detail.
Macron’s support follows recent legislative developments in France, where lawmakers passed a bill aimed at banning social media access for children under the age of 15, a policy promoted by the French president as necessary to shield young users from excessive screen exposure and harmful online content. Indian policymakers have pointed to similar international efforts, noting that countries such as Australia, France and the United Kingdom are increasingly adopting stricter parental consent requirements and age-verification measures to enhance online safety.
Vaishnaw reiterated that all digital platforms operating in India — including global companies such as Netflix, YouTube, Meta and X — must comply with Indian laws and constitutional principles. He stressed that multinational firms need to recognise cultural and legal differences across countries, as practices acceptable in one jurisdiction may not align with regulatory norms elsewhere.
India has already taken preliminary steps toward age-based digital regulation under the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) framework, which introduces differentiated safeguards for younger users. The government’s recent Economic Survey also recommended examining age-based access limits across online platforms to address concerns such as digital addiction, targeted advertising, autoplay features and exposure to potentially harmful content. The report suggested mandatory age verification systems and child-friendly defaults, alongside promoting safer devices designed primarily for educational use.
Beyond child safety, Vaishnaw also addressed broader issues concerning artificial intelligence and copyright, noting that AI models frequently train on publicly available data, creating complex legal challenges. He emphasised that content creators, particularly news organisations, must receive fair compensation when their material is used by digital platforms or AI systems. According to the minister, the government is in ongoing dialogue with technology companies, many of which have shown willingness to explore mechanisms that ensure equitable revenue sharing with creators.
Macron’s endorsement highlights growing international convergence on regulating online platforms and AI-driven technologies, as governments worldwide attempt to balance innovation with stronger safeguards against digital risks affecting users, especially minors.
