WhatsApp has begun testing an age verification feature for limited users in India, marking one of the first major steps by a social media platform to prepare for compliance with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act. According to latest reports from NDTV, screenshots circulating online in recent days show a box that appeared atop the app for some users saying 'Add your date of birth. Upcoming laws in India require us to ask for your age'. A Meta spokesperson confirmed to NDTV that WhatsApp is testing 'privacy-protective ways for people to confirm their age' to comply with the DPDP Act. The age verification test is optional for users, and it is not necessary for users to confirm their age to continue using the platform. WhatsApp clarified that only a limited set of users received the prompt as part of an ongoing test and that providing the information remains optional. As per NDTV, a WhatsApp spokesperson emphasized that 'this doesn't change how WhatsApp works or your experience' and assured that 'information about someone's age is private and it won't be shared with other WhatsApp users'.
The age verification test comes ahead of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, which is set to take effect on May 13, 2027. As reported by The Economic Times, the DPDP Act defines a child as any individual below the age of 18 years, requiring platforms to obtain verifiable parental consent before processing a child's personal data. Under Section 9 of the Act, platforms must verify whether a user is under 18 and, if so, obtain consent from their parent or legal guardian before collecting or processing personal data. The Act specifies that parental consent must be verifiable, requiring platforms to confirm the identity of the parent or guardian and establish their relationship with the child. Notably, the DPDP Act does not mandate users to verify their age or require minors to disclose it. Instead, the law requires platforms to obtain verifiable parental or guardian consent before processing the personal data of children and exercise due diligence to establish the age of users and the authority of those providing consent. According to NDTV, a provision of the act on the processing of personal data of children calls for age verification measures to determine whether users are under the age of 18.
According to the DPDP Rules, platforms must take 'appropriate technical and organisational measures' to ensure verifiable parental consent. As reported by The Economic Times, platforms must confirm that the person claiming to be the parent or legal guardian is at least 18 years old, verify their identity, and maintain a record of the verification for compliance with applicable laws. The DPDP Rules provide two verification methods: using the platform's existing records for registered users whose age and identity have previously been verified, or through government-backed verification using a government-issued identity document or a virtual age token issued by an authorised entity such as DigiLocker. WhatsApp has clarified that it will process the age information in line with its privacy commitments and will not make it visible to other users. According to NDTV, WhatsApp's spokesperson confirmed that 'we understand that age-related information is private, and assured that it won't be shared with other WhatsApp users'.
Separately, WhatsApp acknowledged that some users' accounts were mistakenly placed under review as part of its efforts to curb platform abuse. Several WhatsApp users reported receiving notifications stating 'Account in review. Date requested: 3 Aug 2026. Your account activity and device info is being checked to make sure it follows our terms of service. We will notify you of the result typically within 24 hours.' According to PTI, a WhatsApp spokesperson said the company is always working to stay ahead of those trying to abuse the service and ban accounts to help keep other users safe. 'Sometimes we get this wrong and if we do, we try to fix it as quickly as possible to get people back to chatting,' the spokesperson stated. The company did not specify what triggered the reviews or whether users in specific regions were affected.
The age verification tests come amid heightened tension with the Indian government, as reported by NDTV. Meta on Wednesday said it had apologized to officials for temporarily restricting a Facebook post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in which he addressed students over examination paper leaks that prompted nationwide protests. WhatsApp has more than 600 million users in India, making it the platform's largest market globally. Governments around the world have been enacting or weighing bans on under-16s using social media, though countries such as Australia haven't included WhatsApp in their rules. Separately, the federal tech ministry has also asked WhatsApp to delay the launch of its new username feature - which allows users to connect without sharing numbers - over impersonation and digital arrest concerns. The IT ministry has raised significant concerns about WhatsApp's proposed username feature, which would allow users to communicate without sharing their phone numbers, as the Centre flagged concerns that it could materially increase online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams, and impersonation attacks.
