
These volunteers play a vital role in reporting illegal content, promoting Digital India safety measures, and providing their expertise to help law enforcement agencies combat cybercrimes
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has made a significant move to enhance India’s cybersecurity framework by enrolling 54,833 volunteers under the Cyber Volunteer Framework. This initiative, which falls in line with the National Cyber Security Policy, aims to create a citizen-driven force to combat cybercrime and assist law enforcement agencies. Launched in 2020 by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), this program enables individuals to contribute actively to the fight against cyber threats, ensuring safer online spaces for all.
The volunteers are divided into three categories: Unlawful Content Flaggers, Cyber Awareness Promoters, and Cyber Experts. These volunteers play a vital role in reporting illegal content, promoting Digital India safety measures, and providing their expertise to help law enforcement agencies combat cybercrimes.
The MHA’s annual report for 2023-24 highlights the growing participation in this initiative, with over 22,000 Unlawful Content Flaggers, 22,000 Awareness Promoters, and nearly 10,000 Cyber Experts now part of the framework. Citizens across the country can register for this program via the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in).
Cyber volunteers focus on flagging threats to national security and public order
A key focus of the Cyber Volunteers is to identify and report content that could harm the country's sovereignty, public order, or national security. Volunteers are tasked with flagging materials related to unlawful activities such as inciting violence or involving child sexual abuse material. This initiative also supports the Online Content Regulation efforts to ensure that online platforms adhere to the laws safeguarding the public.
Read More: https://www.varindia.com/news/cybercrime-crisis-mp-cell-faces-massive-backlog
As cybercrime continues to rise in India, with the Digital India safety concerns increasing daily, these volunteers play an essential role in enhancing the country's digital defence. The MHA’s collaboration with tech giants like Google and Meta to monitor online frauds and exploitation adds another layer to the security infrastructure. Moreover, the National Cyber Security Policy aims to strengthen India’s overall cybersecurity resilience, ensuring that cyber threats are tackled efficiently.
With the increasing number of cybercrimes and scams, the volunteer framework is crucial in addressing the growing challenge. India’s strategy to involve citizens, along with the government and tech companies, is vital for building a safer digital environment and upholding the Digital India vision.See What’s Next in Tech With the Fast Forward Newsletter
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