A parliamentary standing committee on communications and information technology is set to recommend that the government explore age restrictions for social media platforms and introduce comprehensive legislation to prevent the misuse of Artificial Intelligence — a twin push that could significantly reshape India's digital regulatory landscape.

The committee, chaired by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, has adopted its report and is expected to table it in Parliament on Monday. While it has not specified a particular age bracket, official sources confirmed the recommendation is aimed squarely at protecting children from the harmful effects of social media. The panel's suggestion comes as states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have already called for bans on children's social media use, and as countries worldwide — led by Australia's landmark ban on under-16s — move towards legislative curbs on minors' access to platforms. No nationwide policy on restricting children's social media usage currently exists in India.

The committee has urged the government to introduce binding legislation to prevent AI misuse, citing its deployment in financial frauds, deepfake audio and video content, and online intimidation — with women and children identified as the most vulnerable targets. Members across party lines flagged the scale of cyber crimes that have wiped out lifetime savings in cases that have made national headlines. Currently, such offences fall under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the IT Act — provisions the panel considers inadequate. The committee noted that several countries have already enacted stringent AI laws and urged India to follow suit.

The panel balanced its warnings with an endorsement of AI's transformative possibilities, urging the Ministry of Electronics and IT to promote specialised AI education from school level through to PhD research, and to establish data centres and AI labs across the country. The committee said efficient and ethical AI deployment could help address challenges in healthcare, education, agriculture, energy, and infrastructure.