WhatsApp Tests Age Verification to Comply With Indian Law

WhatsApp is testing privacy-protective age confirmation methods for its users in India to ensure compliance with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act. The company stated the test is optional and that information regarding a user's age will not be shared with other users. The initiative follows reports of users receiving prompts to provide their dates of birth.

IT Secretary S. Krishnan indicated that the move likely relates to DPDP Act requirements for verifiable parental consent when processing data for children under 18. Krishnan stated that the government is reviewing feedback before making a final decision.

Simultaneously, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is scrutinizing username features across messaging platforms to mitigate risks of phishing, fraud, and impersonation. The ministry issued a notice to Meta directing WhatsApp not to launch its username feature in India pending consultations. The government also issued notices to Telegram and Signal regarding fraud risks associated with their existing username features.