Story perspectives

India Supreme Court Makes Internet Access a Fundamental Right

By Drooid · Oct 18, 2026, 4:15 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

India's Supreme Court declared internet access a fundamental right for all, including children.
Justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran cited Articles 21 and 19(1)(a) in the ruling.
The Court rejected blanket bans because they push children toward riskier unregulated sites.
It ordered age-appropriate safeguards such as parental consent, guidance, and a dedicated child mode.
It mandated a database of hashes and URLs to delete child sexual abuse material.

History

Historical Context

In 1998 the U.S. Congress passed COPPA, which the FTC began enforcing in April 2000, requiring verifiable parental consent for data from children under 13 and imposing $40,000 penalties per violation. Inspired by that framework, India’s Supreme Court—led by Justices J B Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran—declared internet access a fundamental right and ordered similar consent safeguards, prompting other nations to draft comparable rules.

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Story summary

India's Supreme Court declared internet access a fundamental right for all, including children.
Justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran cited Articles 21 and 19(1)(a) in the ruling.
The Court rejected blanket bans because they push children toward riskier unregulated sites.
It ordered age-appropriate safeguards such as parental consent, guidance, and a dedicated child mode.
It mandated a database of hashes and URLs to delete child sexual abuse material.

1 / 2