Meta’s messaging platform is trialling a new feature in India requiring some users to input their date of birth, as it gears up for national regulations enforcing stricter child data protections, all while maintaining user privacy.
WhatsApp has begun testing a feature in India that asks some users to enter their date of birth, as Meta’s messaging platform prepares for stricter child-safety rules in its biggest market. Screenshots shared online show a prompt telling users to add their birth date and noting that upcoming Indian laws require age checks. A WhatsApp spokesperson said the company is experimenting with “privacy-protective” ways to confirm age so it can comply with India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act.
The test appears to be optional. WhatsApp said users can keep using the service without confirming their age, and that the change will not alter how the app works. The company also said age information is private and will not be shared with other WhatsApp users.
The move comes as India sharpens its focus on how platforms handle children’s data. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act includes provisions requiring age verification to determine whether a user is under 18, and a related amendment introduced in Parliament in late 2025 added digital authentication requirements for parental consent when minors’ data is processed. That has pushed technology companies to build new checks around sign-up and account management.
WhatsApp’s India test also lands during a period of broader regulatory pressure on Meta. Reuters and other outlets have reported recent friction between the company and Indian officials over moderation decisions, including a temporary restriction on a Facebook post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The company has also faced scrutiny over sexual content involving children on its platforms, including Instagram.
India is central to WhatsApp’s business, with more than 600 million users in the country, making it by far the service’s largest market. WhatsApp is also testing or developing other India-specific controls, including a SIM-binding feature that would link accounts to active mobile numbers, reflecting the government’s push to curb impersonation and misuse.
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