Dikhyaa Mohanty 
On Monday, WhatsApp and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) extended Meta’s safety campaign against online spam and scams, “Scam Se Bacho.” In an effort to improve digital safety and awareness, DoT and WhatsApp will collaborate to train individuals on how to spot and report suspected fraudulent messages. Workshops for training DoT officials, Sanchar Mitras, Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), and field units will be part of the effort.
In order to expand Sanchar Saathi’s reach, WhatsApp will also collaborate with the DoT to investigate methods to provide citizen-centric services for its projects via the WhatsApp platform. Joel Kaplan, Meta’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, met with Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Union Minister of Communication and Development for the North East Region, to talk about the success of the DoT and Meta’s continued partnership. WhatsApp is working with the DoT’s Digital Intelligence Unit and using the data from DIP to take preventive measures against the abuse of telecom resources for financial fraud and cybercrime.
“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,” said Kaplan.
He said that by collaborating with the Department of Telecommunications, we can assist provide Indians with the information they need to keep safe by fusing our technology know-how with the government’s dedication to public safety. According to Scindia, protecting our citizens’ safety and security continues to be of utmost importance as India moves forward on its digital transformation journey.
