As the digital world expands, so do the risks that come with it. On the occasion of Safer Internet Day 2025, Google has reaffirmed its commitment to online safety by rolling out new measures to combat fraud, scams, and security threats. Through initiatives like DigiKavach and the Enhanced Play Protect program, the tech giant is working to secure its platforms, strengthen industry collaborations, and empower users with digital literacy.
To tackle rising online scams, Google launched DigiKavach, an initiative aimed at reducing financial fraud. Under this program, the ‘Mauka Gawao’ campaign was introduced to educate users about deceptive job offers, investment traps, and fake loan schemes that seem too good to be true. The campaign has already reached 177 million Indians, helping them recognise and avoid common scams.
Google is also working closely with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre and has integrated Google Pay into the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal. This collaboration ensures that fraudulent activities are tracked, reported, and addressed effectively, strengthening the fight against online financial crimes.
With mobile apps being a major target for cybercriminals, Google launched the Enhanced Play Protect program in late 2024 to shield users from harmful apps.
The program’s impact has been significant:
● In India, it blocked 13.9 million harmful app installations, protecting 3.2 million devices.
● Globally, Google Play Protect scans over 200 billion apps daily and has identified 13 million malicious apps outside the Play Store.
● Google also removed 2.36 million policy-violating apps and banned 158,000 developer accounts attempting to publish harmful content.
Beyond security measures, Google is also working on innovative ways to educate users about online risks. The company launched ShieldUp!, a game-based learning tool that helps users recognise scams. A pilot study in India showed that players became more adept at spotting online fraud, and the impact lasted even 21 days after playing the game.
Google’s philanthropic arm, Google.org, is further expanding digital literacy by supporting non-profits like the CyberPeace Foundation and The Asia Foundation. These organisations have trained thousands of individuals and small businesses on fact-checking and cybersecurity best practices.
Recognising the need for a united front against cyber threats, Google has joined the Safer Internet India Coalition. This group brings together digital services, telecom providers, fintech companies, and cybersecurity experts to create a safer online space for users in India. Through this initiative, Google aims to strengthen trust and safety across the digital ecosystem.
With AI-generated content becoming more common, Google is implementing new policies to combat misinformation and deepfakes. The company introduced SynthID, a tool that embeds digital tags into AI-created content, making it easier to identify manipulated images, videos, and text. On YouTube, creators must now disclose when content is realistic but AI-generated, with labels alerting viewers accordingly.
