Hajra Naz
Google has launched a new initiative in India to tackle the growing threat of digital fraud and scams through AI-powered technologies. The company introduced its “Safety Charter” and opened a new Security Engineering Center (GSec) in India, marking a significant investment in user safety across its largest market outside the United States.
This move comes amid a steep rise in online fraud in India. UPI (Unified Payments Interface) scams alone surged by 85% in 2023, reaching losses of nearly ₹11 billion ($127 million), according to government figures. India has also been hit by digital arrest scams, where criminals impersonate officials through video calls to extort money, and predatory loan apps that exploit users financially.
Google’s Multi-Pronged Approach to Cybersecurity
Google’s Safety Charter aims to fight digital scams using AI. It helps detect, prevent, and respond to threats at scale. The company is focusing on three main goals.
- First, improving personal online safety.
- Second, protecting critical infrastructure through better cybersecurity.
- Third, building responsible AI tools to handle emerging risks.
The new GSec in India, its fourth globally after centers in Dublin, Munich, and Malaga, will work closely with local partners, including
- Government bodies
- Academia
- SMEs.
According to Heather Adkins, Google’s VP of Security Engineering, the center will allow for India-specific innovations that protect users where threats are most active.
Read More: Nearly 10 Million WhatsApp Accounts Banned in India – Here’s Why & How to Stay Safe
Partnerships and Ongoing Programs
Google has teamed up with the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs’ Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to boost cybercrime awareness and public education. It also builds upon existing efforts like DigiKavach, a program launched in 2023 to identify and block harmful apps, especially predatory financial services.
The company’s Android ecosystem has seen significant safety upgrades. Google Messages, preinstalled on most Android phones, uses AI to detect scams—blocking over 500 million suspicious messages monthly. Similarly, Google Play Protect has helped stop 220,000 malicious apps from being installed on over 13 million devices, blocking 60 million installation attempts.
Google Pay, one of India’s most-used UPI apps, now issues over 41 million scam-related transaction warnings to help users avoid fraud in real time.
Addressing the Abuse of Generative AI
Adkins emphasized growing concerns around how generative AI, including Google’s own Gemini models, could be misused by bad actors. She noted the use of AI to enhance phishing scams, translate messages for cross-border fraud, and even generate convincing deepfakes.
Google is testing its AI models rigorously to prevent harmful outputs and misuse. It’s also developing the Secure AI Framework to set guardrails for responsible AI deployment—especially as malicious actors begin to weaponize these tools faster than safeguards are created.
Adkins compared the current state of AI safety to the early days of the internet, where innovation was outpacing regulation. She said.
“Protocols are being released in real-time, We’re trying to build safety into these systems from the start, not after the damage is done.”
Read More: 1.5M Indian Sites hacked by Pakistani Hackers in Bunyan-un-Marsoos
Combatting Commercial Surveillance Vendors
Another pressing concern is the rise of commercial surveillance vendors—companies that build and sell spyware platforms for hacking. These platforms, sometimes sold for as little as $20 or as much as $200,000, allow anyone to launch sophisticated attacks without technical expertise.
India has reportedly been a target of such tools, which often allow governments or malicious buyers to spy on individuals at scale. “This region often acts as a preview of what we’ll see globally,” said Adkins, referring to India’s unique challenges involving deepfakes, voice cloning, and digital scams that imitate law enforcement.
The Challenge of Passwordless Security
Google has long championed multi-factor authentication (MFA) to protect users and recently switched it on by default for most accounts. However, in countries like India, where access and digital literacy vary widely, adoption remains challenging.
While Google is pushing for passwordless systems and hardware-based security keys, Adkins acknowledged that SMS-based MFA is still the most practical option for many Indian users today. “We knew passwords were never enough. SMS might not be perfect, but it’s a step forward in this region,” she said.
Conclusion
India’s digital economy is growing quickly. But digital threats are rising too. Google is now investing more in AI-driven security in India. It also plans to educate users to stay safe online. This shows that protecting users in high-risk areas is now a global tech priority.
Cybercriminals are becoming more advanced. AI is also being misused more often. Google’s Safety Charter could help protect users. It’s especially useful in complex digital markets like India.
