New Delhi: The Supreme Court has held that Internet access is a fundamental right for everyone, including children, cautioning against blanket restrictions in the name of online safety.

A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran said the right flows from Article 21, protecting life and personal liberty, read with Article 19(1)(a), guaranteeing freedom of speech and expression. The order was dated October 15 and reported on October 17.

“The safety of our children and their freedom are not at odds with each other. Our children are entitled to both,” the bench said.

The court noted that the internet supports education, information and social connection, especially for children in remote areas and those with special needs. It warned bans could push young users towards less regulated websites and discourage children facing online threats from seeking help.

The judges suggested a dedicated “child mode” for social media accounts, private-by-default settings, limits on messages from unknown adults, and moderation of advertising and age-inappropriate content. Parental guidance and consent could also form part of safeguards, with implementation left to the Union government.

The bench cautioned that age verification could create privacy risks through collection of sensitive personal data. It said safety measures should target harmful material and those responsible, rather than children.

The ruling comes amid a separate petition seeking age-based restrictions on children’s social media use. On October 16, another Supreme Court bench sought responses from the Centre and relevant authorities, listing the case for a December 7 hearing.