Modi calls for global framework on cyber fraud, deepfakes

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called for a global framework to tackle cross-border cyber frauds and the growing threat of deepfakes, urging governments, technology companies, telecom operators and financial institutions to come together for a mechanism to prevent such frauds before they reach the people.

He said India has gained considerable experience in tackling cyber frauds and is ready to share its learnings with the world. Modi warned that cyber frauds and cyber crimes do not respect borders and asserted that technology achieves scale only when it gains trust.

“Technology achieves scale only when it gains trust. And you all know that cyber fraud and cyber crimes do not respect borders. They have already crossed boundaries,” he said while addressing the India Mobile Congress 2026 here. Highlighting the cross-border nature of cyber crimes, he said a person sitting in one country, with the help of another country, can commit a crime in a third country.

“We are also seeing what a big challenge deepfakes have become,” Modi said, adding that countries need to work together on a global framework to address such emerging threats. “Therefore, it is necessary that we work on a global framework for this. Governments, technology companies, telecom operators, and financial institutions – all will need to connect with this framework. I urge the GSMA and telecom operators across the world: come, let us create a global mechanism that can stop such fraud before it reaches the people,” Modi said.

Industry body GSMA represents mobile network operators and companies across the global ecosystem. Modi said strengthening the security framework around telecom and digital technologies was equally crucial for their rapid expansion, with phone and network security becoming priorities.