Google Strengthens India's Digital Defense with AI-Powered Security Suite
At a significant AI pre-summit event in New Delhi on Thursday, November 20, 2025, Google unveiled a comprehensive suite of anti-scam tools and security enhancements specifically designed to protect Indian users from evolving digital threats. The technology giant also announced strategic expansions of its partnerships with key Indian institutions including IIT Madras' Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI) and the CyberPeace Foundation.
Real-Time Scam Detection and Digital Arrest Protection
Among the most notable announcements was the rollout of an innovative scam detection feature for Pixel smartphones that leverages Gemini Nano's artificial intelligence capabilities. This groundbreaking technology analyzes phone calls in real-time to identify potential scams entirely on the user's device, ensuring complete privacy since no audio recordings, transcripts, or data are transmitted to Google's servers.
The feature, which remains disabled by default according to user preference settings, specifically monitors calls from unknown numbers while excluding contacts saved in the user's address book. When activated, the system emits an audible beep to notify all participants about the ongoing monitoring, and users retain full control to disable the functionality at any time.
Google additionally revealed it is piloting a specialized feature to combat the alarming rise of digital arrest scams across India. Android users operating version 11 or newer will receive prominent security alerts when attempting to share their screens with unfamiliar contacts. This protective measure includes a convenient one-tap option to immediately terminate the call and cease screen sharing, developed through collaboration with fintech partners including Google Play, Navi, and Paytm.
Enhanced Verification and Widespread Fraud Prevention
The technology leader introduced a sophisticated new Android security protocol named Enhanced Phone Number Verification (ePNV), which replaces conventional SMS OTP authentication processes with a more secure, consent-based SIM verification system. This advancement represents a significant step forward in preventing unauthorized access and account takeover attempts.
Google's financial ecosystem demonstrates robust protective measures, with Google Pay displaying over one million weekly warnings for potentially fraudulent transactions. Meanwhile, Google Play Protect has achieved remarkable success in safeguarding Indian users, having blocked more than 115 million attempts to install sideloaded applications that exploited sensitive permissions commonly manipulated for financial fraud schemes.
Government Alignment with Privacy-Enhancing Technologies
The event also featured significant insights from government officials regarding India's Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act implementation. Vikash Chourasia, Scientist D of the Cyber Laws and Data Governance Group, emphasized that privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs) will form the core foundation for delivering the DPDP Act's provisions.
Chourasia creatively compared India's data protection legislation journey to purchasing a car, noting that "Now we have to drive the car. That's where we feel that PETs are the core agents for us to deliver the implementation of the DPDP. And that is where we look forward to partnering with institutions and academic groups." The implementation framework will incorporate advanced technological approaches including federated learning, homomorphic encryption, and differential privacy.
The official also confirmed an upcoming stakeholder meeting with organizations such as IIT Madras' Centre for Responsible AI, highlighting the government's collaborative approach to data protection.
Strategic Partnerships and Future Outlook
This AI pre-summit forum, organized by Google's Safety Engineering team, represents one of 800 preparatory events leading to the landmark India AI Impact Summit scheduled for February 2026. This upcoming summit is positioned to become the first large-scale AI conference hosted in the global South, following previous editions conducted at Bletchley Park, Seoul, and Paris.
Google's multi-pronged strategy demonstrates the company's deepened commitment to harnessing artificial intelligence for user protection while aligning with India's evolving digital governance framework. The expanded partnerships with academic institutions and cybersecurity organizations signal a coordinated approach to addressing the unique digital security challenges facing Indian users in an increasingly connected ecosystem.
