Joel Kaplan, Chief Global Affairs Officer, Meta with Union Communication Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in New Delhi today
New Delhi: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and WhatsApp today joined forces to combat the misuse of telecom resources for digital frauds, scams and spam. The partnership aims to enhance digital safety through training workshops and citizen awareness campaigns.
Joel Kaplan, Chief Global Affairs Officer, Meta ((formerly the Facebook company that also owns WhatsApp) met the Union Minister of Communication Jyotiraditya Scindia today and discussed the effectiveness of the ongoing collaboration of DoT and Meta.
WhatsApp is collaborating with Digital Intelligence Unit of DoT and using the information provided by through the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) for proactive action on the misuse of telecom resources for cybercrime and financial fraud. DIP of DOT exchanges bidirectional digital intelligence with 550 stakeholders like banks, law enforcement agencies, about misuse of telecom resources and subsequent action.
WhatsApp will also work with DoT to explore ways to build citizen-centric services for Sanchar Saathi initiatives through the WhatsApp platform, thereby extending the reach of Sanchar Saathi—a citizen-focused initiative aimed at empowering mobile users, enhancing their security, and raising awareness about government initiatives that prioritize citizens’ needs.
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 maximize accessibility.
“By working with the Department of Telecommunications, we can combine our technological expertise with the government’s commitment to citizen safety and help give Indians the knowledge they need to stay safe,” Kaplan said, adding that 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. He further elaborated, “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”.
Commenting on the partnership, Scindia said, “By harnessing WhatsApp’s vast digital reach, we are strengthening efforts to ensure that our digital ecosystem remains secure and resilient for all”. Asserting that ensuring the safety and security of citizens remains a top priority, he said this partnership between DoT and Meta would strengthen this commitment to protect the people from fraudulent communications and cyber threats.
– global bihari bureau
