PM Modi Addresses AI and Cybercrime Concerns at National Police Conference

PM Modi expresses concern over threats emanating from digital frauds, cybercrimes, AI technology

Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed concern over the potential threats generated on account of digital frauds, cybercrimes and AI technology, particularly the potential of deepfake to disrupt social and familial relations. Addressing the concluding session of the 59th All India Conference of Director Generals/Inspector Generals of Police, the prime minister also called for the use of technology to reduce the workload of the police constabulary and suggested that the police station be made the focal point for resource allocation. Deliberations were held on emerging security concerns along the border with Bangladesh and Myanmar, trends in urban policing and strategies for countering malicious narratives, according to an official statement. In-depth discussions were held on existing and emerging challenges to national security, including counter-terrorism, leftwing extremism, cybercrime, economic security, immigration, coastal security and narco-trafficking. Modi noted that wide-ranging discussions were held on national and international dimensions of security challenges and expressed satisfaction on the counter strategies that emerged during the conference, the statement said. As a counter measure to the potential threats generated by digital frauds, cybercrimes and AI technology, the prime minister called on the police leadership to convert the challenge into an opportunity by harnessing India's double AI power of artificial intelligence and Aspirational India. Appreciating the steps taken in urban policing, Modi suggested that each initiative be collated and implemented entirely in 100 cities. He expanded the mantra of SMART policing and called on the police to become strategic, meticulous, adaptable, reliable and transparent. The SMART policing idea was introduced by the prime minister at the 2014 conference in Guwahati. It envisaged systemic changes to transform the Indian police to be Strict and Sensitive, Modern and Mobile, Alert and Accountable, Reliable and Responsive, Techno-savvy and Trained (SMART). Further, a review of the implementation of the newly-enacted major criminal laws, initiatives and best practices in policing, and the security situation in the neighbourhood was undertaken. Discussing the success of hackathons in solving some key problems, the prime minister suggested deliberating on holding a national police hackathon. He also highlighted the need for expanding the focus on port security and preparing a future plan of action for the purpose. Recalling the contribution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to the Union home ministry, Modi exhorted the entire security establishment -- from the ministry to the police station level -- to pay homage on his 150th birth anniversary next year by resolving to set and achieve a goal on any aspect that would improve police image, professionalism and capabilities. He urged the police to modernise and realign itself with the vision of Viksit Bharat. Modi also offered insight and laid a roadmap for the future. About 250 officers in the rank of director general and inspector general of police physically attended the three-day conference while more than 750 others participated virtually. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, among others, attended the meeting. Since 2014, the prime minister has taken a keen interest in the conference. Free flowing thematic discussions over breakfast, lunch and dinner are held at the conference. This provides an opportunity for senior police officers to share their views and recommendations on key policing and internal security issues affecting the country to the prime minister. Till 2013, the annual meet was held in New Delhi. In 2014, after the Modi government assumed power, it was decided to hold the event, organised by the home ministry and the Intelligence Bureau, outside the national capital. Accordingly, the conference was organised in Guwahati in 2014; Dhordo, Rann of Kutch, in 2015; National Police Academy, Hyderabad, in 2016; BSF Academy, Tekanpur, in 2017; Kevadiya in 2018; IISER, Pune, in 2019; Police Headquarters, Lucknow, in 2021; the National Agricultural Science Complex, Pusa, Delhi, in 2023, and Jaipur in January 2024. Continuing with this tradition, the conference was organised in Bhubaneswar this time. The number of business sessions and topics have also increased, with a focus on improving policing in the service of the people. Before 2014, the deliberations largely focused on national security. Since 2014, the conferences have a twin focus on national security and core policing issues, including prevention and detection of crime, community policing, law and order and improving the police's image, among others. Earlier, the conference was Delhi-centric with officers coming together only for the meet. Residing on the same premises over two to three days has served to build a heightened sense of unity among officers of all cadres and organisations since 2014, officials said. Direct interaction of the police's top brass with the head of government has resulted in a convergence of views on crucial challenges and the emergence of doable recommendations. In the past few years, the topics have been selected after detailed discussions with the highest echelons of the police service. Once selected, several interactions on the presentations are held before committees of directors general of police to encourage participation and incorporate ideas from the field and from younger officers. As a result, all presentations are now broad-based, content-intensive and carry a set of cogent, actionable recommendations, the officials said. Since 2015, detailed follow-up of the recommendations of past conferences has become the norm and is the topic of the first business session, attended by the prime minister and the home minister. The recommendations are tracked by the conference secretariat, led by the Intelligence Bureau, with the help of nodal officers in the states. Decisions made in the past few conferences brought significant policy changes, leading to improved policing, including setting higher standards for effective policing in rural and urban areas and improved methods of modern policing based on smart parameters, the officials added.

"Cybercrime, AI misuse featured prominently": PM Modi after attending DGP/IGP conference

PM Narendra Modi attended the DGP/IGP conference in Bhubaneswar and discussed national security challenges, urban policing, and new-age threats like cybercrime and AI misuse. He emphasized the importance of SMART policing, modernizing forces, and harnessing AI. PM Modi also recommended holding a National Police Hackathon and highlighted the need for improved port security.Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that new-age threats like "cybercrime and AI misuse featured prominently" in deliberations on the second day of the DGP/IGP conference in Bhubaneswar. PM Modi attended the 59th All India Conference of Director Generals/ Inspector Generals of Police at Bhubaneswar on November 30 and December 1. "Extensive deliberations continued on the second day of the DGP/IGP Conference in Bhubaneswar. Key discussions on national security challenges, urban policing and new-age threats like cybercrime and AI misuse featured prominently through the conference," PM Modi said in a post on X. Earlier today, PM Modi also addressed the meeting and talked about the importance of "SMART policing, leveraging artificial intelligence and modernising our forces to make them future-ready." As per a release from the Prime Minister's Office, in the valedictory session, PM Modi distributed President's Police Medals for Distinguished Service to officers of the Intelligence Bureau. In his concluding address, PM Modi noted that wide-ranging discussions had been held during the conference, on national and international dimensions of security challenges and expressed satisfaction on the counter strategies which had emerged from the discussions. During his address, the PM expressed concern about the potential threats generated on account of digital frauds, cyber-crimes and AI technology, particularly the potential of deepfakes to disrupt social and familial relations. As a countermeasure, he called upon the police leadership to convert the challenge into an opportunity by harnessing India's double 'AI" power of Artificial Intelligence and Aspirational India. He expanded the mantra of SMART policing and called upon the police to become strategic, meticulous, adaptable, reliable and transparent. Appreciating the initiatives taken in urban policing, he suggested that each of the initiatives be collated and implemented entirely in 100 cities of the country. He called for the use of technology to reduce the workload of the constabulary and suggested that the Police Station be made the focal point for resource allocation. Discussing the success of hackathons in solving some key problems, PM Modi suggested deliberating on holding a National Police Hackathon as well. Prime minister also highlighted the need to expand the focus on port security and preparing a future plan of action for it. Recalling the unparalleled contribution of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the PM exhorted the entire security establishment from MHA to the Police Station level, to pay homage on his 150th birth anniversary next year, by resolving to set and achieve a goal on any aspect which would improve Police image, professionalism and capabilities. He urged the Police to modernize and realign itself with the vision of 'Viksit Bharat'. During the Conference, in-depth discussions were held on existing and emerging challenges to national security, including counter-terrorism, left-wing extremism, cyber-crime, economic security, immigration, coastal security and narco-trafficking. Deliberations were also held on emerging security concerns along the border with Bangladesh and Myanmar, trends in urban policing and strategies for countering malicious narratives. Further, a review was undertaken of the implementation of newly enacted major criminal laws, initiatives and best practices in policing as well as the security situation in the neighbourhood. PM offered valuable insights during the proceedings and laid a roadmap for the future. The conference was also attended by the union home minister, principal secretary to the PM, national security advisor, ministers of state for home and union home secretary. The conference, which was held in a hybrid format, was also attended by DGsP/IGsP of all States/UTs and heads of the CAPF/CPOs physically and by over 750 officers of various ranks virtually from all States/UTs, the release added.

Modi urges police to modernise, realign with 'Viksit Bharat' vision

PM Modi expressed concerns about digital frauds, cyber crimes, and AI threats during the DGP-IGP conference. He urged the police to modernise and adapt to the vision of 'Viksit Bharat'. Modi also highlighted the need for 'SMART' policing. The conference covered national security challenges, including cybercrime, terrorism, immigration, and coastal security. New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed concerns over the potential threats generated on account of digital frauds, cyber crimes and AI technology, particularly the potential of deep fakes to disrupt social and familial relations. He urged the police to modernise and realign itself with vision of 'Viksit Bharat'. Modi was speaking at the valedictory session of annual DGP-IGP conference at Bhubaneswar in Odisha. The conference was attended by Union home minister Amit Shah, Principal Secretary to PM, National Security Advisor, ministers of state for home and Union home secretary. As a countermeasure, PM Modi called upon the police leadership to convert the challenge into an opportunity by harnessing India's double power of Artificial Intelligence and 'Aspirational India'. During his address, the PM expanded the mantra of 'SMART' policing and called upon the police officials to become strategic, meticulous, adaptable, reliable and transparent. During the conference, in-depth discussions were held on existing and emerging challenges to national security, including counter terrorism, Left-Wing Extremism, cybercrime, economic security, immigration, coastal security and narco-trafficking. Deliberations were also held on emerging security concerns along the border with Bangladesh and Myanmar, trends in urban policing and strategies for countering malicious narratives. Further, a review was undertaken of implementation of newly-enacted criminal laws, initiatives and best practices in policing as also the security situation in the neighborhood.