KYC on Instagram, dating apps and games? Parliamentary panel pushes for stricter online ID rules in India

A Parliamentary panel has asked for stricter identity verification norms across digital platforms, recommending KYC-based user authentication and age checks for social media, dating and gaming apps. This proposal, mentioned in a report by the Parliamentary Committee on the Empowerment of Women, aims to improve the online safety for women and minors using these platforms.

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According to the report, the committee has urged the Home Ministry and the IT Ministry to make user verification mandatory, citing that linking accounts to verified identities will help to reduce fake profiles, impersonation, and anonymous harassment. It also required users to be re-verified on a regular basis, as well as the implementation of high-risk flags for accounts that had been repeatedly reported for abusive behaviour.

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In terms of dating and gaming platforms, the panel has called for stricter licensing guidelines as well as robust age verification mechanisms to limit access to inappropriate content and prevent misuse.

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These recommendations and demands come at a time when cybercrime has increased. It includes cyberstalking, trolling, and the distribution of non-consensual content, which is frequently enabled by anonymous or unverified accounts. The panel believes that stronger traceability measures could discourage such behaviour and improve accountability on digital platforms. It also discussed the need for a faster and more effective grievance system to handle online abuse complaints.

However, this proposal could spark a debate about privacy and data protection. Critics have previously warned that a mandatory KYC requirement can increase surveillance risks, lead to data breaches, and exclude users who do not have access to formal identification.

At the same time, it must be noted that the recommendations are not binding and it remains to be seen how the government chooses to act on them.

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Ashish Singh

Ashish Singh is the Chief Copy Editor at Digit. He's been wrangling tech jargon since 2020 (Times Internet, Jagran English '22). When not policing commas, he's likely fueling his gadget habit with coffee, strategising his next virtual race, or plotting a road trip to test the latest in-car tech. He speaks fluent Geek. View Full Profile