New Delhi: WhatsApp has begun testing a new age verification feature for a limited number of users in India as it prepares to comply with the country's Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023.
Under the trial, some users are being prompted to enter their date of birth. The message accompanying the prompt states that upcoming Indian regulations may require the platform to collect age-related information, reported WION.
Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, said the initiative is part of its efforts to develop privacy-protective methods for confirming a user's age.
The company has clarified that the information provided will not be visible to other WhatsApp users and that the current test does not alter how the messaging platform functions. Users participating in the trial can continue using WhatsApp even if they choose not to provide their date of birth.
The move comes ahead of the implementation of provisions related to children's personal data under the DPDP Act, which are scheduled to take effect on May 13 next year. The law introduces stricter obligations for digital platforms handling the personal information of minors.
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Under Section 9 of the DPDP Act, any individual below the age of 18 is classified as a child. Companies processing children's personal data will be required to obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting or using such information.
The law further mandates that platforms verify that a parent or legal guardian is an adult, confirm their identity, and maintain records of the verification process. To facilitate compliance, the draft rules provide two broad methods for parental verification.
Platforms may rely on existing verified records already available with them or use government-backed identity verification systems such as DigiLocker and other authorised digital age-verification services.
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WhatsApp's pilot programme is being closely watched as one of the first major steps by a large technology platform to prepare for India's evolving data privacy framework.
The outcome of the test could offer insights into how digital services will balance regulatory compliance, user privacy, and ease of access for millions of Indian users.
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