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Google Launches India Pilots for On-Device Scam Detection and Screen-Sharing Alerts

Early access is limited to English on Pixel 9 models, with no timeline for broader support.

Overview

  • Real-time call scam detection on Pixel uses Gemini Nano to analyze unknown-number calls entirely on-device, is off by default, signals participants with a beep, and neither records audio nor sends transcripts.
  • A pilot with Google Pay, Paytm and Navi warns users who open payment apps while screen-sharing with unknown callers on Android 11+ and offers a one-tap option to end the call and stop sharing, with more partners and Indian-language alerts planned.
  • Google introduced Enhanced Phone Number Verification, a SIM-based sign-in check intended to replace SMS one-time passwords, which the company says it is developing for India.
  • To counter synthetic media, Google is expanding access to SynthID for partners including PTI, Jagran and India Today and is releasing SynthID text watermarking as an open-source component of its Responsible GenAI Toolkit.
  • Google reports over 115 million Play Protect blocks of risky sideloaded app installs in India and more than 1 million weekly Google Pay warnings, is funding CyberPeace Foundation and APAC research partners, yet reach remains narrow and app store policing challenges persist.