The Curious Case of Cyber Fraud at the Grassroots in India
At the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF), our ongoing commitment to bridging the digital divide and empowering marginalized communities through technology is embodied in our Just AI – Data & Algorithms for Communities division. This initiative works to integrate social justice with the growing impact of AI and data on communities, advocating for responsible, inclusive, and ethical AI governance. As we reflect on our milestones, we also look ahead to our vision for 2025, striving to build upon our work in AI literacy, grassroots research, bottom-up policy advocacy, and strengthening a citizen-centric AI ecosystem.
In 2023, DEF leveraged its extensive community outreach network, spanning 2,000 Communication Information Resource Centers (CIRCs) across India, to conduct AI literacy programs aimed at empowering communities, particularly in rural and underserved regions. Through the AI for All community awareness program, we reached 14 states, organizing meetings with Panchayat representatives, ASHA and ANM workers, elderly citizens, students, youth, and Self-Help Group (SHG) women. These efforts were designed to demystify AI, help communities understand algorithmic systems, and create awareness about the importance of data protection. Digital literacy serves as a foundation of empowerment, enabling communities to engage with AI in an informed and responsible manner, fostering the growth of a more digitally aware society.
In 2024, DEF continued its work by focusing on addressing the challenges that hinder meaningful digital adoption in India. Our research explored issues such as data rights, autonomy, and the agency of marginalized communities, to fill existing gaps in the policy landscape. We worked to understand the barriers to AI implementation in these regions, examining how infrastructural gaps, data-related challenges, lack of awareness, and limited access to resources impact underserved communities’ ability to adopt and benefit from AI technologies. This research forms the basis of future advocacy and policy discussions that seek to ensure that AI adoption is inclusive and equitable.
One of the major programs we initiated is SheCatalyst, a project aimed at training SoochnaPreneurs managing CIRCs in rural and peri-urban India, as well as urban slums, to become fact-checkers. The SoochnaPreneurs, majority of whom are women entrepreneurs, are rigorously trained and equipped with the tools and knowledge to identify and combat misinformation, including deepfakes, thus ensuring that the local communities had access to accurate information. By empowering these women to become agents of change, the efforts not only help reduce the spread of false narratives but also support the broader goal of building digital trust and enabling informed and responsible digital communities.
Additionally, DEF began developing the Algorithmic Chronicles, a comprehensive database aimed at documenting systemic biases and injustices in AI systems. This initiative focuses on identifying the challenges faced by marginalized communities when interacting with AI technologies in India, including algorithmic biases, discriminatory practices, opacity in decision-making and impact of the growing data regime on land, livelihood, and environment. The database, available in both English and regional languages, will serve as a vital resource for advocacy, transparency, and the promotion of ethical AI development and governance.
As part of our commitment to recognizing and promoting ethical AI solutions, DEF conceptualised the Just AI Awards in 2024. The awards celebrated AI projects that leveraged technology for social good, recognising AI solutions that addressed issues such as exclusion and bias. The event also helped build a network of AI developers and innovators committed to building responsible and inclusive technologies, ensuring that the focus of AI development aligns with the needs and rights of marginalized communities. We are thrilled to announce that six Just AI Awardees from India have advanced to the next stage of the World Summit Awards Digital Impact Days 2025, to be held in Vienna, Austria. They are now part of this prestigious global competition! Out of 133 remarkable finalists from across the globe, these Indian digital changemakers have showcased their groundbreaking work in ethical AI and impactful innovation.
Finally, DEF hosted the 6th Digital Citizen Summit (DCS) at the end of 2024, in collaboration with the Centre for Development Policy and Practice and the Government of Telangana. The theme of the summit being “Algorithms, AI & Accountability,” addressed critical issues such as algorithmic bias and the exclusion of marginalized communities from digital systems. Discussions revolved around the questions – How can the citizens participate in building AI accountability? Who is to be held accountable for the bias shown by AI? What should be the role of regulatory bodies in AI governance? How is AI and algorithms enabling the exclusion of communities and individuals? The summit highlighted the importance of inclusive AI development and participatory decision-making in shaping the future of AI systems that truly reflect the lived experiences of marginalized communities in AI governance.
Collective Vision for 2025: Data and Algorithms for Communities
Looking ahead to 2025, DEF plans to further expand its initiatives, particularly in supporting AI literacy programs, facilitating grassroots innovation, and strengthening the digital ecosystem to achieve meaningful AI adoption in rural India. Through mentorship and capacity-building programs, we will continue working towards building a network of best AI practices that are both contextually relevant, citizen-oriented, and socially responsible. Our work will strive to build a future where AI technologies are designed with a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by marginalized communities.
DEF will also continue to expand its AI for All program, furthering its reach to even more communities across India. This initiative will focus on deepening understanding of AI technologies, while also enabling access to knowledge and resources about their rights in the digital space and the limitations of AI. By continuing to build AI literacy, we aim to create a more digitally informed population that is better equipped to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by AI.
Bottom-up policy advocacy will remain a central focus for DEF in 2025, particularly in developing a multi-stakeholder dialogue on AI accountability and governance. A key initiative in this regard will be the release of an anthology titled “AI by the People, for the People: A Framework for Citizen-Centric AI,” which will explore the role of AI in shaping governance and public policy. The anthology will bring together experts from various fields to examine how AI can be governed in ways that prioritize transparency, inclusivity, and fairness, while also addressing issues of bias and exclusion in AI systems.
The Just AI Awards will continue to recognize and celebrate ethical AI solutions in 2025, expanding its scope to highlight innovative projects that demonstrate how AI can be harnessed for the greater social good. By supporting the development of socially responsible AI, DEF aims to strengthen the network of developers committed to building technology that is accountable and serves the needs of marginalized communities. DEF’s work on the Algorithmic Chronicles will also expand in 2025, with the database growing to document even more instances of bias, discrimination, and injustice in AI systems. This resource will play a key role in supporting advocacy efforts aimed at promoting ethical AI practices and ensuring that AI systems are designed to benefit all communities, not just those who are already digitally empowered.
DEF will continue to work towards developing a community-informed framework for Responsible AI, one that prioritises governance, accessibility, and inclusivity. This framework will serve as a guide for policymakers, technologists, and communities, helping to shape a future where AI technologies are developed and adopted in a way that strengthens democratic values and promotes social justice. As we look ahead to 2025, DEF remains committed to bridging the gap between digital technologies and social justice. By focusing on the intersection of AI and social good, we are working to ensure that AI serves as a tool for empowerment, not exclusion. Through our work, we strive to create a more inclusive, transparent, and ethical digital ecosystem that reflects the values of justice, equity, and community empowerment.
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