Kerala will examine the growing misuse of artificial intelligence and cyberspace and expand efforts to promote responsible digital behaviour through the state police’s Cyber Safe Keralam initiative, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala told the Assembly on Tuesday.
Replying to a question from Congress legislator V S Joy during Question Hour, Chennithala said the increasing misuse of AI and cyberspace was a serious concern. He said the government would examine the issue and take steps to counter such trends effectively.
The Cyber Safe Keralam project aims to build a sustainable and responsible digital society by encouraging safer digital behaviour among individuals, communities and institutions. The initiative was recently launched by the cyber wing of the state police and will be expanded after consultations with experts, the minister said.
Chennithala specifically pointed to the use of digital platforms to spread hostility and create rivalry between religious communities. “Misuse of cyberspace, where people can say anything about anyone and create hostility among people and rivalry between religions, is increasing in society. The Cyber Safe Keralam project aims to effectively counter this trend and create awareness,” he said.
The minister also identified cyberbullying, online financial fraud, social-media misuse and online offences against children as growing concerns. He said such cybercrimes were increasing in Kerala as well as nationally and internationally, and that the state government had launched the initiative soon after coming to power.
The announcement places public awareness at the centre of Kerala’s immediate cyber-safety response. Chennithala said awareness was the first step towards checking cybercrime and preventing the misuse of digital platforms. The approach indicates that the state’s response will involve not only police action but also efforts to influence how residents, institutions and communities use online services.
The minister said Kerala’s high literacy rate had not eliminated a digital divide. Differences in digital awareness and the ability to identify online risks continued to leave many people vulnerable to cyber fraud, he added.
The proposed expansion comes as digital systems become more deeply embedded in everyday public and private life. For residents, the risks identified by the government extend from financial loss and harassment to the circulation of divisive content and offences targeting children. The state police’s cyber wing is expected to develop the initiative further after expert consultations, although the government has not announced a specific implementation timeline in the statement reported to the Assembly.
The next stage of Cyber Safe Keralam will therefore depend on the consultations and the measures adopted after them. The government’s immediate stated priorities are to examine the misuse of AI and cyberspace, expand the police initiative and strengthen awareness of responsible digital behaviour.
