Guwahati, Oct. 17 -- The Supreme Court has held that children have a fundamental right to access and use the internet, ruling that protecting them from online abuse cannot justify blanket restrictions on their access.

A Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran made the observation in an October 15 order in Just Rights for Children Alliance & Anr. v. S. Harish & Ors., while issuing directions to strengthen the detection and removal of child sexual exploitation and abuse material (CSEAM) online.

The court held that the right to access and use the internet is protected under Article 21 read with Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution and applies to children irrespective of their age.

"The safety of our children and their freedom ...