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Truecaller and government of Karnataka collaborate to promote safety in digital communication
Mumbai: Truecaller, the leading global communications and caller ID platform collaborates with the department of electronics and information technology (DeIT), government of Karnataka to combat the growing incidents of cybercrime, impersonation, and fraud, and promote user safety in digital communication. Forged in the presence of Priyank Kharge, minister for information technology & bio technology and rural development & panchayat raj on the advent of Safer Internet Day, this initiative aims to empower citizens’ cyber safety awareness and skills. Collaboration launched in presence of minister for IT & bio technology, Priyank Kharge, Rishit Jhunjhunwala, chief product officer & MD India, Pragya, director of public affairs at Truecaller.
As a part of this collaboration, Truecaller will carry out a series of initiatives to create awareness and build the capacity of citizens across the state to navigate the internet safely, and protect themselves from online harms, especially phone-based frauds and scams.
Speaking on the collaboration, Priyank Kharge, minister for information technology & bio technology and rural development & panchayat raj said, “This partnership underscores the government of Karnataka’s commitment to prioritising the safety of our citizens in the digital ecosystem. Cybercrimes and fraud in digital communication are growing at a rapid pace with advancing technology thus exposing vulnerable citizens to high risk. The Government is taking proactive steps to increase awareness and promote safety in digital communications. Bengaluru is synonymous with innovation and is recognised as a thriving tech hub. We take pride in adopting a collaborative approach to enhancing citizen’s online safety here,” the Minister added.
Sharing his thoughts on the initiative, Truecaller India chief product officer and managing director, Rishit Jhunjhunwala, said, “We are delighted to collaborate with the government of Karnataka to enhance digital safety in communication, empowering citizens to make the most of opportunities available to them in the digital world. Over the past year, our government directory services feature has assisted over 31.2 million users in identifying verified calls from spam and fraud, while also helping them easily access helplines and key government numbers on the platform. At Truecaller, we are consistently working towards improving fraud prevention and are confident that this collaboration will assist citizens of Karnataka in staying one step ahead of fraudsters.”
To date, Truecaller has conducted cyber safety training for over 1.6 million citizens in collaboration with Delhi Police, Assam Police, and state governments of Delhi, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan.
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With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
