A Digital Tsunami of Fraud
The numbers paint a grim picture of a national crisis. In 2025 alone, Indians lost over ₹22,000 crore to cyber fraud, with nearly 2.8 million complaints registered. This isn't a niche problem; it's a mainstream threat affecting everyone from city professionals
to villagers embracing UPI for the first time. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) reports that online financial fraud is the most dominant category of cybercrime. Scams have evolved far beyond simple OTP theft. Today's fraudsters use a sophisticated arsenal, including AI-generated voice cloning to impersonate family members, QR code swaps at merchant stalls, and elaborate 'digital arrest' scams where they pose as police to extort money. This surge has made India one of the most targeted countries for digital fraud, with the average loss per victim significantly higher than the global average.
The Unspoken Bargain Is Broken
For years, the implicit deal was clear: users accepted a degree of risk in exchange for the immense convenience of digital platforms. A free social media account, an instant payment app, or a seamless online shopping experience was worth the trade-off. Responsibility for safety was largely placed on the user. We were told to use strong passwords, not to share our OTPs, and to be vigilant. But the sheer scale and sophistication of modern fraud have broken this bargain. When scammers can use AI to bypass verification systems, run fraudulent advertisements on major social media sites, and use messenger apps like WhatsApp and Telegram to orchestrate massive investment scams, the 'user vigilance' model is no longer enough. The trust that underpins the digital economy is eroding, prompting a public outcry for a new model of shared responsibility.
More Than Just 'Intermediaries'
Tech platforms have long benefited from their legal status as 'intermediaries'—neutral conduits for information, not publishers responsible for it. This stance is becoming increasingly difficult to defend. Platforms are not just passive channels; they are the very arenas where scams are initiated, organised, and executed. Fraudsters use social media to recruit victims for fake investment schemes, exploit e-commerce platforms with fraudulent seller accounts, and leverage search engines to direct users to fake customer care numbers. This has led to a growing consensus among the public and policymakers that platforms have a duty of care that goes beyond simply taking down illegal content after it has been reported. The conversation has shifted from reactive takedowns to proactive prevention.
The New Demands for Accountability
The demand for greater accountability is now being formalised. The Indian government, through amendments to the IT Rules and the new Digital Personal Data Protection Act, is placing stricter obligations on platforms. On February 10, 2026, the government amended IT Rules to specifically address harms from AI-generated content, including deepfakes used in fraud. There is increasing pressure for platforms to proactively detect and remove malicious activity, strengthen user verification, and improve their grievance redressal mechanisms. Some of the new expectations include building India-specific fraud detection tools, taking financial liability for scams enabled by their systems, and sharing intelligence with law enforcement in real-time to help freeze and recover stolen funds. The message is clear: if a platform is the site of the crime, it must also be part of the solution.
The Path to a Safer Digital India
In response, some platforms are beginning to act. E-commerce sites are removing millions of counterfeit listings and fraudulent sellers. However, the challenge is immense. It requires a coordinated effort between tech companies, banks, telecom operators, and government agencies like CERT-In, which handled over 2.9 million cyber incidents in 2025. The government is pushing for a 'whole-of-ecosystem' approach, developing portals that allow for faster coordination and takedown of fraudulent accounts and websites. For citizens, this shift means that while personal vigilance remains crucial, they are no longer alone in the fight. The expectation is now that the multi-billion-dollar companies that built India's digital infrastructure must take a leading role in securing it.
