Concept
Under the DPDP Act a child is anyone who has not completed 18 years of age. Processing their data carries extra safeguards.
"child" means an individual who has not completed the age of eighteen years.
The Act sets the threshold at 18, higher than many global regimes. Any individual below that age is a child for its purposes.
Because children need protection, Section 9 requires verifiable parental consent and bans tracking, behavioural monitoring and targeted advertising directed at them.
A learning app used by a 15-year-old must obtain verifiable consent from a parent before processing the child's data.
What age is a child under the Act?
Anyone who has not completed 18 years of age.
Do children have separate rights?
Their data carries extra protections under Section 9, and a parent or guardian acts as the Data Principal.