Meta-owned WhatsApp has started testing an optional age verification feature for select users in India.
The move is aimed at preparing for the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act before its 2027 rollout.
Highlights
- WhatsApp is testing an age verification feature for select users in India.
- The feature is optional and does not affect normal app usage.
- The move is linked to compliance with the DPDP Act, effective from May 13, 2027.
- Platforms must obtain verifiable parental consent for users below 18 years.
- Parents’ identity can be verified using existing records or DigiLocker-backed verification.
- WhatsApp says users’ age information will remain private and won’t be shared with others.
WhatsApp has started testing an age verification feature for a limited number of users in India as it prepares to comply with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act. Some users have reported receiving prompts asking them to enter their date of birth, with the message stating that upcoming Indian laws require the platform to verify users’ ages.
According to Meta, the feature is currently being tested in a privacy-protective manner and is optional. Users are not required to provide their age to continue using WhatsApp during the testing phase. The company also clarified that the information collected will remain private and will not be visible to other WhatsApp users.
The age verification initiative is linked to India’s DPDP Act, 2023, whose provisions related to children’s personal data will come into effect on May 13, 2027. Under the law, anyone below the age of 18 is considered a child. Digital platforms that process children’s personal data must first obtain verifiable consent from a parent or legal guardian.
The accompanying DPDP Rules, 2025, require companies to verify not only the identity of the parent or guardian but also confirm that they are at least 18 years old. Platforms must maintain records of these verifications for legal compliance.
The rules provide two methods for verification. Companies can either rely on previously verified user information already available on the platform or use government-backed identity verification systems, including virtual age tokens issued through authorised entities such as DigiLocker.
WhatsApp’s testing marks one of the first major steps by a global social media platform to prepare for India’s new data privacy framework. As the 2027 deadline approaches, more digital platforms are expected to introduce similar age and parental consent verification systems to comply with the country’s evolving data protection regulations.
