Google Launches New Initiative To Ensure Safety Of Youth And Senior Citizens In India

Google has announced a new comprehensive plan to develop safe and reliable Artificial Intelligence (AI) aimed at protecting security-sensitive users in India from online threats. The company emphasised that safety must be fundamental to advancing AI's transformative role. The announcement comes ahead of the AI Impact Summit 2026.

This initiative focuses on combating scams, strengthening cybersecurity, and building inclusive AI models for India and the Global South. The company raised concerns over growing threats, such as digital arrest scams, screen-sharing fraud and voice cloning, stating that Google's strategy focuses on security systems designed to stay a step ahead of scammers.

Combating Deepfakes

In this direction, to combat deepfakes, Google is utilising its AI watermarking technology SynthID with Jagran and other partners.

Meanwhile, Google Play Protect has blocked over 115 million installation attempts of high-risk sideloaded apps in India. Google Pay issues over one million scam alerts every week

SynthID's analysis is a powerful technology for identifying deepfakes and AI manipulation in AI-manipulated multimedia. A fact-check report containing SynthID's analysis can be read here.

Emphasis on digital literacy and inclusive AI

Google is also investing in large-scale digital literacy programs. Initiatives like Leo, Super Searchers, and DigiKawach, aimed at senior citizens, aim to equip millions of people with skills to recognise online risks. The DigiKavach campaign features Dainik Jagran and its fact-checking wing Vishvas News as its knowledge partners.

Google is expanding its collaboration with IIT Madras and CeRAI to advance AI safety benchmarks.