India's Consumer Affairs Ministry joins hands with Meta for digital consumer protection

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs has partnered with tech giant Meta to launch a new awareness campaign, "Be an Empowered Consumer," aimed at strengthening digital literacy and online consumer protection across India.

Unveiled on Tuesday by Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and Meta’s Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan, the initiative will operate under the government’s existing "Jago Grahak Jago" (Wake Up Consumer) campaign to expand its reach and impact.

At the launch event, Minister Joshi emphasised the importance of consumer awareness, stating that educating citizens about digital threats is essential for a safer and more sustainable online experience. The campaign will focus on helping users recognise online risks, adopt safer digital habits, and report suspicious activities.

In addition to the awareness initiative, the government also announced a separate AI-driven consumer protection project in collaboration with IIT Bombay and Meta.

This project leverages Meta’s Llama 2 language model to power "GrahakNyay", a chatbot designed to assist consumers in understanding their rights and streamlining the complaint resolution process.

Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare highlighted that the chatbot would simplify grievance redressal, making it easier for users to file complaints and get resolutions efficiently.

Speaking about the partnership, Meta’s Joel Kaplan expressed confidence in AI’s role in enhancing consumer awareness and promoting digital safety.

"We believe AI can empower people by providing essential information, helping them stay protected, and simplifying redressal mechanisms. This initiative aligns with our efforts to make AI more accessible and improve consumer experiences," he said.

This collaboration comes as India’s consumer protection authorities ramp up efforts to tackle misleading advertisements, unfair trade practices, and risks in e-commerce transactions.