Google will now protect you from scams! Your phone itself will become a smart security shield, feature launched in India

Google Real-Time Scam Detection: To combat the growing online fraud and digital scams in India, Google has introduced its most powerful AI security tool. 

For the first time, the company has included real-time scam detection during phone calls, providing instant alerts without recording. 

Google also announced new AI security tools, including anti-screen-sharing protection for financial apps, enhanced Play Protect monitoring, and SynthID. Google has described India as a "proving ground" for global AI safety.

Google's 360-degree AI security plan for India

Google stated that AI-powered security is now essential for a large digital market like India. The company clarified that it is strengthening security at both the on-device and on-cloud levels to protect every user from online fraud. 

Google VP Evan Kotsovinos described India as "the world's testing ground" for AI security and said that India's scale and diversity will set new standards for AI security. 

Google India Country Manager Preeti Lobana cited digital literacy and continuous research as key components of this strategy.

Real-time Scam Detection feature for Pixel phones

Google has announced the Gemini Nano-based Real-Time Scam Detection feature for Pixel phones. This feature detects suspicious conversations in real-time during calls and immediately alerts the user without recording any audio or transferring data. 

This feature is disabled by default and must be manually enabled by the user. It only works for unknown numbers and also alerts via a beep during calls. Users can disable this feature at any time.

Screen-sharing anti-fraud protection for financial apps

Google has started testing a new security feature in India with apps like Google Pay, PayTM, and Navi. On Android 11+ devices, if a user opens these apps while screen sharing is in progress, a large warning alert immediately appears on the screen. 

The user can end both screen sharing and the call with a single tap, preventing scammers from accessing any sensitive information. Google Play Protect has reportedly blocked over 115 million install attempts of dangerous or scam-prone sideloaded apps in India.

ePNV protection, SynthID, and system-level protection

Google has introduced a new Android system called Enhanced Phone Number Verification (ePNV) to enhance sign-in security, enabling secure SIM-based verification instead of SMS OTP. 

Google has also provided early access to the SynthID Detector and API to media and research partners in India, including Jagran, PTI, and India Today. 

This technology will be useful in identifying AI-generated content and preventing misinformation. The company said this step is important towards building a robust AI security ecosystem for India.