Wed Mar 19 04:14:56 UTC 2025: ## India Launches AI-Powered Chatbot to Boost Consumer Protection

**New Delhi, March 19, 2025** – The Indian Ministry of Consumer Affairs announced a major initiative today to enhance digital literacy and online consumer protection. In partnership with Meta, the ministry launched “Be an Empowered Consumer,” a campaign designed to educate citizens about online safety and empower them to navigate the digital marketplace effectively.

The campaign builds upon the existing “Jago Grahak Jago” (Wake Up Consumer) program and will focus on educating consumers about identifying online threats, using strong passwords, verifying online information, and reporting suspicious activities.

A key component of the initiative is “GrahakNyay,” a new AI-powered chatbot developed in collaboration with IIT Bombay and powered by Meta’s Llama 2 language model. This chatbot aims to simplify the process of filing consumer complaints and accessing information about consumer rights. Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare stated that the chatbot will ensure seamless complaint filing and resolution.

Minister of Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi emphasized the importance of consumer awareness in a sustainable digital environment. He highlighted that the partnership would extend consumer protection efforts to even the most remote areas of the country.

Joel Kaplan, Meta’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, stated that Meta believes AI can significantly improve consumer protection and informed decision-making online. The initiative comes as India’s consumer protection authorities address growing concerns related to misleading advertisements, unfair trade practices, and vulnerabilities in e-commerce.

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