With cybercriminals increasingly targeting mobile applications, Google launched the Enhanced Play Protect programme in late 2024
As the digital landscape continues to grow, so do the threats that come with it. Marking Safer Internet Day 2025, Google has introduced new security measures to combat online fraud, scams, and cyber threats. Through initiatives like DigiKavach and the Enhanced Play Protect programme, the company is working to secure its platforms, collaborate with key industry players, and empower users with digital literacy.
Fighting Online Scams With DigiKavach
To counter the rising cases of financial fraud, Google launched DigiKavach, an initiative aimed at protecting users from deceptive job offers, investment traps, and fraudulent loan schemes. As part of this effort, the company introduced the ‘Mauka Gawao’ campaign, which has already reached 177 million Indians, educating them about common online scams and how to avoid them.
Google is also strengthening its collaboration with law enforcement. It has partnered with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre and integrated Google Pay into the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal, ensuring that fraudulent activities can be reported and addressed efficiently.
Enhanced Play Protect: Shielding Users From Malicious Apps
With cybercriminals increasingly targeting mobile applications, Google launched the Enhanced Play Protect programme in late 2024 to safeguard users from harmful apps. The impact of this initiative has been significant:
In India, 13.9 million harmful app installations have been blocked, protecting 3.2 million devices.
Globally, Google Play Protect scans over 200 billion apps daily, identifying 13 million malicious apps outside the Play Store.
The company also removed 2.36 million policy-violating apps and banned 158,000 developer accounts attempting to distribute harmful content.
Building Digital Awareness Through Education
Beyond implementing security measures, Google is also focusing on digital literacy. The company launched ShieldUp!, a game-based learning tool designed to help users identify online scams. A pilot study in India found that players became more skilled at spotting fraud, and the knowledge remained effective even 21 days after playing the game.
Through its philanthropic arm Google.org, the company is supporting non-profits such as the CyberPeace Foundation and The Asia Foundation to provide cybersecurity training. These organisations have already educated thousands of individuals and small businesses on fact-checking and online safety best practices.
United Effort For Safer Digital Ecosystem
Recognising the need for a collaborative approach, Google has joined the Safer Internet India Coalition. This alliance brings together digital service providers, telecom companies, fintech firms, and cybersecurity experts to create a more secure online space for Indian users.
With the rise of AI-generated content, Google is also taking steps to combat misinformation. The company introduced SynthID, a tool that embeds digital watermarks into AI-generated content, making it easier to detect manipulated images, videos, and text. On YouTube, content creators are now required to disclose when their content is AI-generated, with visible labels alerting viewers accordingly.
Through these initiatives, Google aims to strengthen digital security, empower users, and foster greater trust across the online ecosystem.
