In a significant endorsement of India’s technological trajectory, French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday addressed the inaugural India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Sharing the stage with global leaders and top CEOs, Macron used the platform to praise New Delhi’s digital infrastructure while advocating for stricter online protections for minors, suggesting that India may follow France’s lead in banning social media for children under the age of 15.
During his keynote address, Macron revealed that he had discussed the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, indicating that similar restrictions being considered in India.
"Mr. PM, you will join this club... to protect children and teenagers," Macron stated from the dais. He framed the issue as a fundamental societal imperative rather than mere governance. "Protecting children is not regulation, but civilization," the French leader asserted.
The proposed measure aligns with France's existing legislative framework, which requires parental consent for minors under 15 to open social media accounts. Macron’s comments suggest that the Indian government is actively evaluating a similar regulatory approach to shield young users from potential online harms, including cyberbullying, mental health issues, and exposure to inappropriate content.
While the social media remarks grabbed headlines, the bulk of Macron’s address was dedicated to lauding India’s digital revolution. He highlighted the sheer scale of the country’s technological achievements, which he described as unparalleled globally.
"India built something that no other country in the world has built. A digital identity for 1.4 billion people," Macron said, referring to the Aadhaar system. He marveled at the subsequent developments, including a Unified Payments Interface (UPI) that processes a staggering 20 billion transactions monthly and a digital health infrastructure that has issued 500 million IDs.
"They call it the India Stack, Open Interoperable Sovereign. That is what this summit is about," he added, emphasizing that these tools have created a foundation for inclusive growth.
Drawing a parallel with India’s journey, Macron recounted a story of a Mumbai street vendor to illustrate how India defied global skepticism.
"Ten years ago, the world told India that 1.4 billion people could not be brought into the digital economy. India proved them wrong," he said.
Extending this narrative to the current global race for Artificial Intelligence, Macron argued against the notion that AI is a "game only the biggest can play." He proposed an alternative path forward through strategic partnerships.
"India, France, Europe, together with our partners, those who believe in our approach... might have a different way," Macron stated. "The future of AI will be built by those who combine innovation and responsibility, technology with humanity. India and France will help to shape this future together."
The India AI Impact Summit, being held from February 16 to 20, has brought together a confluence of global political and corporate powerhouses. The discussions are centered around three core themes, or 'Sutras': People, Planet, and Progress.
Macron’s presence underscores the deepening strategic partnership between India and France, extending beyond traditional defense ties into the critical domains of digital public infrastructure and ethical AI development. As the summit continues, the French President's proposal regarding social media is expected to fuel further debate on child safety in the digital age in India.
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