19 Oct 2026 · The Economic Times · other
Internet access as a fundamental right for children: What the Supreme Court ruling means
Relevant for: BPSC Combined Competitive Examination · BPSC TRE-4 Class 1–5
News In brief
The Supreme Court on October 15 held that “the right to access and use the internet is a fundamental right of every individual.” A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Chandran added that children, “irrespective of their age, enjoy the same rights”, and that “the safety of our children and their freedom are not at odds with each other. Our children are entitled to both.” What does the right to access the internet mean when several states, including Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, plan screen-time curbs for children, some countries restrict minors’ use of social media, and governments suspend internet services during protests?
Key Facts for Prelims
- Judicial Landmark: The Supreme Court officially declared the right to access and use the internet as a fundamental right belonging to every individual.
- Bench Composition: The ruling was delivered on October 15 by a division bench comprising Justice J. B. Pardiwala and Justice K. V. Chandran.
- Child Rights Jurisprudence: The judgment established that children enjoy identical fundamental rights to internet access as adults, ruling that child safety and digital freedom are not mutually exclus
Source: The Economic Times ↗
Test yourself
Consider the following statements regarding the Supreme Court's ruling on internet access: 1. The ruling declared that the right to access and use the internet is a fundamental right for every individual. 2. The bench that delivered the ruling comprised Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Chandran. 3. The ruling stated that children's safety and their freedom are at odds with each other. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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