In a bold step to combat the rising tide of cybercrime, Google has unveiled a new AI-powered Safety Charter and opened a Security Engineering Center in India, aiming to improve fraud detection and online safety across the country. This move comes as India grapples with a surge in digital scams, especially through mobile payments and fake loan apps.
Rising Online Threats in India
Digital fraud is escalating rapidly in India, particularly through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). In 2024 alone, scams related to UPI shot up by 85%, causing losses of nearly ₹11 billion ($127 million). Cybercriminals are also using video calls and fake government identities to execute “digital arrest” scams, while predatory loan apps continue to exploit vulnerable users.
The New Safety Charter
Google’s newly introduced Safety Charter focuses on three key pillars:
- Online scam and fraud prevention
- Cybersecurity for enterprises and government
- Ethical and responsible AI development
The initiative will be powered by Google’s fourth Security Engineering Center (GSec)—located in India and complementing those in Dublin, Munich, and Malaga. The center will collaborate with local tech communities, educational institutions, and government bodies to develop tailored solutions for India’s cybersecurity challenges.
Strategic Partnerships and Awareness Campaigns
As part of its push to protect Indian users, Google has partnered with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs. This alliance aims to educate the public about online threats, building on Google’s 2023 launch of DigiKavach, an initiative to identify and block harmful financial and loan apps.
How Google Is Using AI to Stop Scams
Google’s existing products are already using AI to stop fraud at scale:
- Google Messages blocks over 500 million suspicious texts monthly.
- Google Play Protect, piloted in India, prevented 60 million risky app downloads and blocked over 220,000 malicious apps.
- Google Pay, a top UPI app, issued 41 million scam warnings to alert users before suspicious transactions.
Tackling AI Misuse and Surveillance Threats
Heather Adkins, VP of Security Engineering at Google, highlighted growing risks from the misuse of AI tools like Gemini in phishing and deepfake scams. She emphasized Google’s commitment to safe AI deployment through internal testing and frameworks like the Secure AI Framework, developed with industry experts and researchers.
She also pointed out the threat posed by commercial surveillance vendors, who create and sell hacking tools for as little as $20. These tools are often used to spy on individuals without requiring technical skills—posing a significant threat, especially in emerging markets like India.
Overcoming Challenges in Authentication
While Google continues to promote multi-factor authentication (MFA) and passwordless logins, adoption in India remains uneven. Many users still rely on SMS-based codes, underscoring the need for inclusive, locally adaptable security practices.
Google’s latest initiatives reflect a growing urgency to stay ahead of fast-evolving cyber threats. By investing in local AI talent and technology, the company aims to not only protect Indian users but also shape the global future of cybersecurity and ethical AI.https://blog.google/technology/safety-security/how-were-using-ai-to-combat-the-latest-scams/
