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Macron asks India to join the coalition to make the internet and social media safe for children, pitches for inclusive AI

February 19, 2026 5 min read International Relations Science & Technology GS2 (International Relations Governance) GS3 (Science & Technology)
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What Happened

  • French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, urged India to join a growing coalition of nations committed to making the internet and social media safe for children
  • Macron called for a global ban on social media for children under 15 and proposed a "coalition of the willing" to ensure online safety reflects real-world legal standards
  • PM Modi and Macron found common ground on the vulnerability of children in an age of algorithmic exposure, issuing a joint call to action
  • Macron named Greece, Spain, and several other European countries as part of the growing coalition and confirmed India would join
  • Macron announced that protecting children from digital dangers would be a priority of France's G7 presidency in 2026
  • India has already stated it is in discussions with social media companies on age-based restrictions

Static Topic Bridges

Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 — Child Safety Provisions

India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA), 2023 (enacted August 11, 2023) includes specific provisions for the protection of children's data online. The Act classifies children (below 18 years) as a special category of data principals requiring enhanced protection.

  • Section 9 of DPDPA: Processing of personal data of children requires verifiable parental consent before any data is processed
  • The Act prohibits tracking, behavioural monitoring, and targeted advertising directed at children
  • Data fiduciaries that process children's data must implement additional safeguards
  • The government may, by notification, lower the age threshold from 18 to 14 for specific platforms that are "verifiably safe" for children
  • Penalties: up to INR 200 crore for each instance of violation involving children's data
  • Comparable frameworks: EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, 2018) — Article 8 sets age of digital consent at 16 (member states can lower to 13); US Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA, 1998) — applies to children under 13
  • The DPDPA is still awaiting notification of rules by the government for full implementation

Connection to this news: Macron's call for India to join the child safety coalition aligns with India's existing legislative framework under the DPDPA, which already mandates parental consent and prohibits targeting children online, though implementation rules are pending.

Global Regulatory Approaches to Social Media and Minors

Multiple countries have moved toward age-based restrictions on social media access for minors, reflecting growing evidence of mental health harms. France has been a leader in this movement, passing legislation in 2023 requiring age verification for social media platforms.

  • France: Law passed June 2023 requiring social media platforms to verify users' ages and block access for those under 15 without parental consent; technical implementation ongoing
  • Australia: Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 — bans social media for children under 16; platforms face fines up to AUD 50 million for non-compliance
  • EU Digital Services Act (DSA, 2024): requires platforms to assess and mitigate risks to minors, including algorithmic recommendation systems; prohibits profiling of minors for targeted advertising
  • UK Online Safety Act (2023): imposes duty of care on platforms to protect children from harmful content; Ofcom as regulator
  • US: Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) and Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) — both pending in Congress
  • China: regulations limit minors' screen time to 40 minutes per day on short-video apps and ban access between 10 PM and 6 AM
  • India's IT Act, 2000 (Section 67B) criminalises publishing or transmitting sexually explicit material depicting children; the proposed Digital India Act (replacement for IT Act) is expected to include comprehensive child safety provisions

Connection to this news: Macron's proposal for a "coalition of the willing" seeks to create an international standard for child safety online, building on the diverse national approaches already emerging, with France's G7 presidency providing a platform for multilateral coordination.

India AI Impact Summit 2026 and Global AI Governance

The India AI Impact Summit 2026, held February 16-20 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, is the third in a series of global AI summits following the Bletchley Park AI Safety Summit (UK, November 2023) and the Paris AI Action Summit (France, February 2025). India's hosting shifts the focus from safety and action to "impact" — measurable outcomes for the Global South.

  • Summit theme: "AI for Impact" — transitioning from governance and safety dialogues to deployment and measurable outcomes
  • Over 35,000 registrations from 100+ countries
  • India unveiled three sovereign AI models: Sarvam AI's 30-billion and 105-billion parameter models trained for Indian languages, and BharatGen
  • Key outcomes include discussions on sovereign AI (nations developing indigenous AI capabilities rather than depending on foreign models), inclusive AI, and AI governance frameworks
  • Previous summits: Bletchley Park (2023) — AI Safety Institute concept; Paris (2025) — AI Action Summit focusing on deployment
  • India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) — Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker — was highlighted as a global model for inclusive technology deployment
  • The summit serves as a platform for linking child safety, AI governance, and digital sovereignty into a cohesive policy framework

Connection to this news: Macron's dual pitch — child safety coalition and inclusive AI — at the India AI Impact Summit reflects the growing convergence between AI governance, digital rights, and online safety as interconnected policy domains.

Key Facts & Data

  • India AI Impact Summit 2026: February 16-20, Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi; 35,000+ registrations, 100+ countries
  • France passed social media age verification law in June 2023 (under-15 ban without parental consent)
  • Australia banned social media for under-16s (2024); fines up to AUD 50 million
  • India's DPDPA, 2023: requires verifiable parental consent for processing children's data; penalties up to INR 200 crore
  • France holds the G7 presidency in 2026; child digital safety is a stated priority
  • India's sovereign AI models unveiled at the summit: Sarvam AI (30B and 105B parameters), BharatGen
  • GDPR age of digital consent: 16 (member states can lower to 13); US COPPA: applies to under-13s
  • India is discussing age-based restrictions with social media platforms