Mumbai:The Central government is examining additional measures to strengthen online safety, particularly for children and women, while also addressing the growing issue of misleading advertisements on digital platforms, Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
Responding to a question in Parliament, Vaishnaw said protecting users in the rapidly expanding digital ecosystem remains a key priority for the government. He highlighted that the increasing reach and influence of social media platforms have made it essential to adopt stronger safeguards to protect vulnerable users.
The minister noted that risks in the digital environment can arise from multiple sources, including content generated through artificial intelligence as well as material posted by publishers and users across social media platforms.
“The safety of children on all social media platforms, safety of women, and protection against misleading advertisements are very important issues. We have to take all the steps which are required for ensuring the safety of our children and the entire society on digital platforms, whether it is AI-generated material or material posted by publishers on social media platforms,” Vaishnaw said in the House.
He also referred to the work undertaken by a parliamentary committee that has studied the evolving risks associated with digital platforms. According to Vaishnaw, the committee conducted a detailed examination of the issue to assess whether the current frameworks governing citizen safety online require further strengthening.
The government’s review comes amid increasing scrutiny of online platforms globally, as policymakers grapple with the challenges posed by rapidly advancing technologies, AI-generated content, and the spread of deceptive advertising in the digital space.
