Government Partners with Meta to Enhance Consumer Protection
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Synopsis
The Centre and Meta have teamed up to promote consumer empowerment through digital literacy as part of the ‘Jago Grahak Jago’ program, focusing on online safety and consumer rights.
Key Takeaways
- Partnership aims to enhance digital literacy.
- Campaign focuses on online safety and consumer rights.
- AI-driven chatbot will streamline grievance redressal.
- Collaboration involves IIT Bombay for project development.
- Minister emphasizes the importance of consumer awareness.
New Delhi, March 18 (NationPress) The government and Meta declared a partnership on Tuesday aimed at enhancing consumer empowerment through digital literacy initiatives as part of the government's prominent ‘Jago Grahak Jago’ program.
The collaborative effort, titled ‘Be an Empowered Consumer,’ intends to inform Indian citizens about identifying online threats and fostering healthy online behaviors, such as creating strong passwords, verifying online information, and reporting suspicious activities.
Prahlad Joshi, the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, expressed satisfaction with the collaboration with Meta, emphasizing the importance of equipping citizens with the necessary knowledge and tools to navigate the digital landscape securely.
“Raising consumer awareness is essential for ensuring a sustainable and secure digital experience. This campaign will bolster consumer protection measures and reaffirm our dedication to empowering Indian consumers,” the minister stated.
During the meeting, the minister was also informed about a joint initiative with IIT Bombay, established by the chair of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) at the National Law School of India University in Bangalore, with support from Meta.
This partnership is designed to create an AI-driven, citizen-focused chatbot that utilizes Meta’s large language model, Llama 2.
The chatbot aims to improve access to consumer rights information and serve as an effective grievance redressal tool, enabling individuals to file complaints and address queries more efficiently. The chatbot is currently undergoing closed beta testing and will be launched and integrated into the DoCA’s website upon completion of testing.
Joel Kaplan, Chief Global Affairs Officer at Meta, expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with the Department of Consumer Affairs to enhance India's digital consumer protection initiatives.
“At Meta, we believe AI can assist individuals in safeguarding themselves and becoming informed online consumers. By making AI more accessible, we aim to elevate consumer awareness, streamline redressal processes, and equip individuals with the knowledge necessary for making informed online decisions,” he noted.
