Google unveiled a comprehensive anti-scam initiative at the Online Safety Dialogue 2025, announcing strategic partnerships and substantial investments to combat online fraud across Asia Pacific. The announcement comes as regional scam losses reached a staggering $688 billion in 2024, representing nearly two-thirds of global fraud losses.

Strategic Investment and Partnerships

At the forefront of this initiative is Google.org’s $5 million allocation for anti-scam grants throughout Asia Pacific in 2025. This investment builds upon previous successful grants, including $2 million to a Singaporean social impact organisation and $1 million to a Taiwanese non-profit dedicated to anti-fraud education.

A cornerstone of the strategy involves a groundbreaking partnership with Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs. This collaboration encompasses sharing scam trend data, coordinating international operations, and developing advanced detection tools to combat sophisticated fraud techniques.

Enhanced Technology and Real-time Intelligence

The expansion of Google’s Global Signals Exchange (GSE) platform marks a significant technological advancement in the fight against online fraud. Launched in October 2024, the platform now connects twenty partners, processing approximately 180 million scam-related signals. The integration of additional internal product teams has resulted in a tenfold increase in signal processing capacity.

Innovative Educational Initiatives

Google is revolutionising digital literacy through gamification with ShieldUp!, an interactive mobile game previously successful in India. The company plans to extend this innovative tool to Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand by the end of 2025, targeting the region’s substantial gaming population, including 17 million gamers in Taiwan alone.

Regional Cooperation and Future Outlook

This comprehensive approach combines advanced technology, educational outreach, and cross-border cooperation to address the evolving challenges of digital fraud.

Google’s strategy demonstrates a long-term commitment to cybersecurity in Asia Pacific, emphasising the importance of continuous investment, transparent information sharing, and robust partnerships. These efforts aim to enhance online safety for hundreds of millions of users while combating increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

News Source: https://blog.google/around-the-globe/google-asia/four-ways-google-is-combatting-scams-in-asia-pacific/