India has taken a significant step towards curbing cybercrime and financial fraud with the launch of two new platforms by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). These initiatives, the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) and the Chakshu facility, aim to empower both authorities and citizens in the fight against digital threats.
Understanding the Threats:
India, like many countries, faces a growing problem of cybercrime. Fraudsters often exploit telecom resources like phone calls, SMS, and messaging apps to trick people into revealing personal information or transferring money. These crimes can cause significant financial losses and emotional distress.
DIP: Strengthening Collaboration
The Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) addresses this challenge by fostering collaboration between various stakeholders. Here’s what DIP does:
- Secure Information Sharing: DIP provides a secure platform for real-time exchange of intelligence among telecom service providers (TSPs), law enforcement agencies (LEAs), banks, financial institutions, social media platforms, and identity document issuing authorities.
- Combating Misuse of Resources: By sharing information, these entities can identify and track patterns of misuse of telecom resources in cybercrime and financial frauds. This allows for quicker intervention and disruption of fraudulent activities.
The department of Telecommunication has taken many initiatives to spread awareness so that citizens can make use of such tools for addressing their grievances as well as protect themselves from cyber-frauds.
Minister of Communications, Railway, and Electronics & Information Technology Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw said in the event.
Mr Vaishnaw mentioned “Sanchar Saathi” portal in this regard saying it has helped successfully tackle such attacks. The Minister pointed out that together with today’s two portals- DIP and Chakshu, these tools will further appreciably enhance the capacity and ability to check any kind of cyber security threat.
DIP is Important But Not for Citizens Directly
It’s important to note that DIP is not a public platform. It’s designed for authorized officials who can leverage shared intelligence for investigations and preventive measures.
Chakshu: Empowering the People
This is where Chakshu comes in. Chakshu, meaning “eye” in Hindi, is a citizen-centric initiative. It empowers people to become active participants in combating cybercrime by providing a mechanism to report suspected fraudulent communication.
How Chakshu Works:
- Reporting Suspicious Activity: Citizens can report suspicious calls, SMS, or WhatsApp messages received with the intent to defraud. This includes common tactics like:
- KYC (Know Your Customer) updation scams
- Impersonation of government officials or relatives for money requests
- Phishing attempts related to bank accounts, payment wallets, or utility connections
- Sextortion threats
- Fake claims of service disconnection by DoT
- Reporting Through Sanchar Saathi Portal: Reports can be submitted through the Chakshu facility on the Sanchar Saathi portal (https://sancharsaathi.gov.in/).
Chakshu: A Powerful Tool
By reporting suspicious activity, citizens can help authorities identify and track down cybercriminals. This collective effort can significantly reduce the success rate of these frauds.
A Multi-Pronged Approach
The launch of DIP and Chakshu reflects the Indian government’s multi-pronged approach to cyber security under the “Secure India” project. This project aims to combat cyber threats at three levels:
- National Level: Implementing robust cyber security frameworks and infrastructure.
- Organisational Level: Encouraging businesses and institutions to adopt strong cyber hygiene practices.
- Individual Level: Educating and empowering citizens to identify and report cybercrime attempts.
The introduction of DIP and Chakshu is a welcome step towards a safer digital space in India. By fostering collaboration between authorities and empowering citizens, these initiatives have the potential to significantly reduce cybercrime and financial fraud.
