DoT, WhatsApp Partner To Combat Misuse Of Telecom Resources For Digital Frauds
As part of the collaboration, DoT and WhatsApp will work together to educate citizens on identifying & reporting suspected fraud communications in an effort to enhance digital safety and awareness.
The Department of Telecommunications said on Monday that it has collaborated with WhatsApp to extend ‘Scam Se Bacho,’ Meta’s safety campaign against online scams and spam.
Joel Kaplan, chief global affairs officer, Meta, met the Union Minister of Communication and Development of the North East Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, on Monday and discussed the effectiveness of the ongoing collaboration of DoT and Meta.
As part of the collaboration, DoT and WhatsApp will work together to educate citizens on identifying & reporting suspected fraud communications in an effort to enhance digital safety and awareness.
The DoT has taken various initiatives to prevent misuse of telecom resources in cybercrime and financial frauds, according to an official release.
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 or messages, know their mobile connections, and block & trace lost or stolen mobile handsets, among other facilities.
Digital Intelligence Platform, or DIP, of DOT exchange bidirectional digital intelligence with 550 stakeholders like banks and LEAs about misuse of telecom resources and subsequent action.
"As India advances on its path of digital transformation, ensuring the safety and security of our citizens remains a top priority. 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," said Jyotiraditya Scindia.
In a significant step to enhance digital safety and awareness on the ground, the initiative will include train-the-trainer workshops for DoT officials, Sanchar Mitras, telecom service providers, and field units.
WhatsApp will also work with DoT to explore ways to build citizen-centric services of Sanchar Saathi initiatives through the WhatsApp platform for a wider reach of Sanchar Saathi.
"WhatsApp is collaborating with the Digital Intelligence Unit of DoT and using the information provided through DIP for proactive action on misuse of telecom resources for cybercrime and financial fraud," the release said.
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.
All user safety materials will be translated into regional languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Gujarati, to maximise accessibility.
DoT is steadfastly committed to preventing the misuse of telecom resources by implementing advanced solutions and working closely with various stakeholders. Awareness of the citizens will help them keep safe in the evolving digital ecosystem.
