Synopsis
The Department of Telecommunications has joined forces with WhatsApp to extend the 'Scam Se Bacho' initiative, aimed at educating citizens on identifying online scams and enhancing digital safety. This partnership includes workshops and the development of informative materials in various regional languages.Key Takeaways
- Collaboration between DoT and WhatsApp to combat online fraud.
- Workshops for training officials and service providers.
- Educational materials in multiple regional languages.
- Focus on enhancing digital safety for citizens.
- Proactive measures against telecom resource misuse.
New Delhi, March 17 (NationPress) The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has announced a partnership with WhatsApp to enhance the ‘Scam Se Bacho’ initiative, which is a part of Meta’s campaign aimed at fighting online scams and spam.
This collaboration seeks to educate the public on how to identify and report potential fraudulent communications, thereby improving digital safety and awareness.
The initiative will feature workshops aimed at training DoT officials, Sanchar Mitras, Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), and field teams.
Furthermore, WhatsApp will collaborate with the DoT to explore the development of citizen-centric services related to the Sanchar Saathi initiative via the WhatsApp platform, aiming for a broader outreach.
Joel Kaplan, Chief Global Affairs Officer at Meta, met with Union Minister of Communication and Development of North East Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, to discuss the ongoing collaboration between DoT and Meta.
WhatsApp is also partnering with the Digital Intelligence Unit of DoT to utilize information provided through the DIP for proactive measures against the misuse of telecom resources in cybercrime and financial fraud.
“To effectively prevent individuals from becoming victims of scams and online fraud, it’s essential to educate them on what to watch for and how to stay safe,” Kaplan stated.
He added, “By collaborating with the Department of Telecommunications, we can merge our technological capabilities with the government's dedication to citizen safety, equipping Indians with the necessary knowledge to protect themselves.”
Minister Scindia emphasized that as India progresses in its digital transformation, the safety and security of its citizens must remain a top priority.
“Our alliance with Meta reinforces this commitment to safeguard our populace from fraudulent communications and cyber threats. Utilizing WhatsApp’s extensive digital reach, we are enhancing our efforts to maintain a secure and resilient digital ecosystem for everyone,” Scindia remarked.
WhatsApp will also create informative materials in coordination with DoT to educate users on recognizing and reporting online scams and spam.
All materials focused on user safety will be translated into various regional languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Gujarati to enhance accessibility.
