India’s fraud problem is growing fast
Digital scams in India are exploding. UPI-based fraud alone shot up by 85% in a year, reaching ₹11 billion in losses. Add to that the rise of deepfake videos, voice-cloned scam calls, and fake digital arrests, and it’s clear why India’s digital journey is under serious threat. In response, Google has launched its AI-powered Safety Charter in India, aiming to fight back with tools that adapt as quickly as scammers do.
The move reflects the growing importance of India for Google — not just as a user base, but as a testbed for security innovation.
Security center opens in India
The heart of this initiative is Google’s new Security Engineering Center (GSec) in India — only the fourth such center globally. While others exist in Dublin, Munich, and Malaga, the India unit will serve a unique role. It’s designed to create solutions close to the real-world problems faced by Indian users, said Heather Adkins, Google’s VP of Security Engineering.
Three priorities for a safer internet
At the core of Google’s Safety Charter are three clear focus areas. First, making users safer from online scams and fraud. Second, strengthening cybersecurity for institutions and infrastructure. And third, building and deploying AI responsibly — especially as misuse grows.
Real-time AI tools already making impact
Google isn’t starting from scratch. Many of its tools are already working behind the scenes. Google Messages’ Scam Detection protects users from over 500 million suspicious texts monthly. Google Play Protect, first tested in India, has blocked nearly 60 million risky app installs, and stopped over 220,000 harmful apps across 13 million devices. Google Pay, one of the most used UPI apps, has issued 41 million scam transaction warnings.
Partnering with government to raise awareness
Alongside tech, awareness matters. Google has teamed up with the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to spread awareness and improve public readiness. This builds on Google’s 2023 launch of DigiKavach, a campaign aimed at stopping malicious financial and loan apps.
AI misuse and surveillance tools raise new concerns
While AI helps detect scams, it can also be misused. Adkins warned of phishing campaigns powered by language models like Gemini, where translation and deepfakes make scams harder to detect. To counter this, Google is building a Secure AI Framework, but it’s also collaborating with global researchers to avoid creating closed-off systems.
Google is also keeping an eye on spyware vendors, including groups like NSO. These companies sell tools to governments and others, some for as little as $20, to scale cyberattacks with zero technical skills required. India, being a major market, often sees these tactics used here first.
Passwordless future will take time in India
Passwords are no longer enough. Google has long pushed multi-factor authentication and hardware-based login tools. But in India, SMS-based MFA remains the most accessible option. Google hopes to slowly shift users toward safer, passwordless methods — though adoption will take time.
India leads in cyber threats and solutions
Adkins believes that India’s cybersecurity landscape is often a preview of what the world will face next. For Google, this makes the country not just a market, but a learning ground. With its new charter and expanded presence, the company is betting that local innovation can help win the global fight against digital fraud.
