WhatsApp tests age verification in India ahead of DPDP rules

MUMBAI: Your next WhatsApp message may come with an unexpected question: “When’s your birthday?” The messaging giant has begun testing an age verification feature in India as it gears up for a new era of data protection rules that put children’s online safety firmly in the spotlight.

WhatsApp has started rolling out a limited trial of an optional age verification feature in India, prompting select users to enter their date of birth as parent company Meta prepares for compliance with the country’s upcoming Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act.

The feature, currently available to a small group of users, displays a prompt explaining that upcoming Indian regulations require the platform to verify users’ ages. Meta said the trial is part of an early-stage effort to explore privacy-focused ways of meeting future regulatory obligations without disrupting the core WhatsApp experience.

The move comes as India prepares to implement provisions under the DPDP Act that require digital platforms to establish mechanisms for determining whether users are below 18 years of age, strengthening safeguards around the processing of children’s personal data.

With more than 600 million users, India is WhatsApp’s largest market, making compliance with the new regulatory framework a significant priority for the company.

Meta clarified that the feature remains optional during the testing phase and that users are not required to share their date of birth to continue using the messaging service. The company also stressed that any date of birth provided will remain private and will not be visible to other WhatsApp users.

The pilot reflects growing regulatory scrutiny of global technology companies in India, where authorities have stepped up oversight of user privacy, online safety and child protection.

In recent months, Meta has also been engaged with Indian regulators over measures to strengthen child safety across its platforms and the proposed introduction of WhatsApp usernames, which officials have reportedly asked the company to defer over concerns about impersonation and digital fraud. The social media giant has additionally faced questions over its content moderation practices across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

As India’s digital rulebook evolves, the age verification trial signals that platforms are increasingly being asked to balance privacy with accountability—without making users feel like they’re filling out forms before sending a simple “Hi”.