The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Google today announced further collaboration to drive citizen awareness on Cyber Safety.
Google will work with the Ministry to amplify its Stay Safe Online campaign through several initiatives, ranging from literacy programs around cyber safety, multilingual digital content on online safety, and educational content on how to navigate information online.
Tech enabled development is a key focus area of India’s G20 Presidency. To enable this development and strengthen India’s efforts to become a trillion-dollar digital economy, MeitY is running a large-scale campaign called “Stay Safe Online.” This comprehensive campaign aims to raise awareness among citizens and promote cyber hygiene, sensitizing users of all ages and backgrounds about online risks and safety measures, as well as responsible use of online platforms.
Remarking on the announcement, Akash Tripathi, CEO, MyGov, said, “Under the visionary leadership of PM Modi and his Techade vision for India, we are witnessing a surge in digital adoption. India’s G20 Presidency offers a remarkable opportunity to shape a model of the internet that promotes inclusivity and establishes new global standards. With this growth comes an urgent need to sensitize citizens of all ages about online risks and the adoption of safety measures and cyber hygiene to protect themselves. We are pleased to have Google join us in informing and educating citizens on how they can #StaySafeOnline and continue to support the government’s vision of creating an open, inclusive and safe digital space for all Indians.”
Sharing his views on the partnership, Sanjay Gupta, Country Head and Vice President, Google India, said (to be confirmed), “India is taking big strides towards its goal of becoming a trillion dollar digital economy. With over 700 million Indians using the internet, and the country driving transformative innovations with the power of digital technologies, it is important to ensure that the internet is inclusive and safe for all Indians. At Google, our core priority has always been to ensure a safe, secure, and helpful internet experience while supporting India’s digital growth. We are pleased to expand our commitment to our shared goals of cyber safety and security through this partnership, and collaborate with MeitY on their Stay Safe Online campaign that brings the industry together to prioritize the safety of Indians online and move towards a safer digital future with a robust and secure ecosystem.”
In line with its ongoing commitment to online safety, Google is working with the Ministry to enhance user awareness on cyber fraud, helping people identify common types of online scams and adopt best practices to safeguard against them.
To promote digital literacy and essential online skills for children, Google will raise awareness on the fundamentals of online safety through the Be Internet Awesome program, sharing helpful content covering a wide range of online safety topics, such as, how to be smart, alert, strong, kind, and brave on the internet. These will be shared across the Google Safety Centre which serves as a single destination dedicated to educating and empowering users on the importance of digital safety, available in eight Indian languages.
Google will also share helpful tips and resources on how to stay safe online including reminders on safe digital transactions and securing online accounts through password protection and two-step verification.
Recognizing the importance of accessing reliable information, especially during crises or when seeking sensitive advice, YouTube is committed to equipping people with the necessary skills to navigate online content effectively. In line with this mission, the platform established a digital literacy program called ‘Hit Pause’, which promotes critical thinking about online information.
Expanding on these efforts, Google is collaborating with MeitY to launch a series of educational videos featuring YouTube creators to empower individuals to evaluate information, spot misinformation, and responsibly share information online.
The series will delve into specific skills to better evaluate the quality of information available online. Creators will shed light on how to establish credentials of the source and understand their motivations, corroborate content with subject-matter experts, and gather cited and verifiable evidence.
Last year, at Safer with Google, the company deepened its commitment to online safety with a multi-pronged effort in collaboration with MeitY to protect people from online harm – including a pan India cybersecurity roadshow to strengthen cybersecurity capability for developers and start-ups, and the Raho Do Kadam Aage user awareness program on financial fraud, in partnership with leading banks.
As India continues to make significant advances towards becoming a trillion-dollar digital economy, MeitY’s Stay Safe Online initiative and the continued industry-wide collaboration will benefit the rapidly growing number of Indians using the internet, equipping them with helpful information and knowledge so they can have a safe online experience and make the most of their connectivity.
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