The department of telecommunications (DoT) has partnered with WhatsApp to combat misuse of telecom resources for digital frauds and scams.
As part of the partnership, both DoT and WhatsApp will work to educate citizens on identifying and reporting suspected fraud communications in an effort to enhance digital safety and awareness, according to a government release.
Meta is already running ‘Scam Se Bacho’, a safety campaign against online scams and spam.
On Monday, Meta’s chief global affairs officer Joel Kaplan met Jyotiraditya Scindia, minister of communication and development of North East Region. Both discussed the effectiveness of ongoing collaboration between DoT and Meta.
WhatsApp uses the information provided through DoT’s digital intelligence platform for proactive action on misuse of telecom resources for cybercrime and financial frauds.
“Our partnership with Meta strengthens this commitment to protect our people from fraudulent communications and cyber threats. By harnessing WhatsApp’s vast digital reach, we are strengthening efforts to ensure that our digital ecosystem remains secure and resilient for all,” Scindia said.
Kaplan said, “the best way to stop people falling victim to scams and online fraud is to make sure they know what to look out for and what they can do to stay safe. That’s why Meta invests a great deal in technology and resources to try and stay ahead of the scammers and give people the information they need.”
As part of the partnership, WhatsApp will also develop informative assets in collaboration with DoT to educate users on how to identify and report online scams and spam. These will cover different types of fraud, warning signs, and reporting mechanisms available on the Sanchar Saathi platform.
All user safety materials will be translated into regional languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Gujarati to maximize accessibility, the release said.
Notably, DoT has taken various Initiatives to prevent misuse of telecom resources in cybercrime and financial frauds. A citizen centric Sanchar Saathi initiative in the form of a portal and mobile app has been developed to empower citizens to report suspected fraud calls/messages, know their mobile connections and block & trace lost/ stolen mobile handsets, among other facilities.
