Consumer Awareness Key to Safe Digital Experience: Pralhad Joshi

New Delhi- Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi, announced a new initiative, ‘Be an Empowered Consumer,’ in collaboration with Meta to enhance digital literacy and consumer protection under the government’s ‘Jago Grahak Jago’ campaign.

Speaking at the event, Joshi highlighted the importance of equipping citizens with digital skills to safeguard themselves online. “Consumer awareness is key to a sustainable and secure digital experience,” he stated, adding that the initiative aims to extend consumer protection efforts to remote areas of the country.

The campaign focuses on educating consumers about online threats, promoting secure online habits, and ensuring swift redressal of grievances. A notable development is the introduction of ‘GrahakNyay,’ a chatbot leveraging Meta’s Llama 2 large language model, designed to assist consumers with filing complaints and accessing information on their rights. The chatbot, developed in partnership with IIT Bombay and the National Law School of India University, Bangalore, is set to undergo beta testing before its official launch.

Meta’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, Joel Kaplan, emphasized the role of AI in enhancing consumer safety and streamlining grievance redressal. “With technology progressing rapidly, our collaboration with the Department of Consumer Affairs aims to empower citizens with the knowledge they need to make informed choices online,” Kaplan said.

The Department of Consumer Affairs has also reinforced its legislative framework to combat unfair trade practices, introducing guidelines to prevent misleading advertisements, dark patterns, and greenwashing. Additionally, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), established under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, has been actively imposing penalties and issuing advisories to safeguard consumer interests.

The joint initiative marks a pivotal step in strengthening consumer rights, combining technology-driven grievance redressal with widespread digital literacy efforts to create a safer online environment for Indian consumers.