Tag: Digital Safety

EduConnect

Cyber Smart Generation: Awareness Drive Held at St. Francis Xavier’s High School, Siolim

Tanisha Cardozo

A significant step towards building digital awareness among young students was witnessed in Siolim, Goa, as a cyber awareness and online safety programme was conducted at St. Francis Xavier’s High School on 25th February 2026. The initiative was organised by the Siolim Free Legal Aid Cell of V.M. Salgaocar College of Law, aiming to equip students with essential knowledge to navigate the increasingly complex digital world safely.

The session was led by PSI Sahil Vijay Warang, Police Sub-Inspector from Anjuna Police Station, who addressed the students as the guest speaker. His talk focused on the growing threats of cybercrime and the importance of awareness as the first line of defence. The programme was held in the presence of Fr. Dilip Tete, Headmaster of the school, and Fr. Marcos Dsouza, Principal of the Higher Secondary section, both of whom appreciated the initiative and its relevance in today’s digital age.

With participation from approximately 600 to 650 students, along with teachers and members of the Legal Aid Cell, the session turned into an engaging and insightful learning experience. Students were introduced to the concept of cybercrime as an “unseen danger,” where criminals often exploit human emotions such as fear, greed, and curiosity rather than relying solely on advanced technology.

PSI Warang shared real-life examples of various online frauds, including fake investment schemes, job scams, sextortion cases, fake loan applications, impersonation frauds, matrimonial scams, and online booking frauds. He also explained newer threats such as digital arrest scams and emotional manipulation tactics, helping students understand how easily individuals can fall prey without proper awareness.

A key focus of the session was on developing a responsible digital mindset. Students were encouraged to stay cautious while using social media platforms, online games, and digital payment systems. Practical tips were shared on identifying suspicious links, protecting personal information, and verifying online transactions before taking action.

The session also introduced students to important safety resources such as the National Cybercrime Helpline 1930 and official cybercrime reporting platforms, empowering them with tools to seek help in case of any online threat. The interactive nature of the programme allowed students to actively participate, ask questions, and relate to real-world scenarios discussed during the session.

Faculty members, including Assistant Professor Shreya Shah, who serves as the Faculty Incharge of the Legal Aid Cell, along with student coordinators and school staff, played a key role in organising the event. Their efforts ensured that the programme was both informative and impactful.

The event concluded with a strong message: awareness is the most powerful defence against cybercrime. As students left the session more informed and alert, the programme successfully reinforced the importance of staying vigilant in an increasingly digital world.

EduConnect

Career Counselling, Drug Abuse & Cyber Safety Awareness Session Held at T.B. Cunha Higher Secondary School

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 

Panaji, Goa: A comprehensive awareness and guidance session on Career Counselling, Drug Abuse Prevention, and Cyber Safety was successfully organised at T.B. Cunha Higher Secondary School, Panaji, in collaboration with Antrang Foundation.



The session was conducted by PSI Sahil Warang, Police Sub-Inspector, Anjuna Police Station, and was attended by 40 students from the higher secondary section. The programme aimed to provide students with holistic guidance by integrating career planning with social awareness and safety education.

During the career counselling segment, students were encouraged to identify their strengths, set realistic goals, explore diverse career options, and cultivate discipline, self-confidence, and sound decision-making skills essential for long-term success.

A significant portion of the session was dedicated to drug abuse prevention, where students were sensitised to the harmful physical, psychological, social, and legal consequences of substance abuse. Through real-life examples and practical insights, the speaker highlighted how peer pressure, curiosity, and misinformation can lead to addiction, and stressed the importance of early awareness and strong personal values.

The cyber safety module addressed the growing digital risks faced by young people. Students were educated on safe internet practices, protection of personal data, cyber frauds, online addiction, and responsible use of social media. Emphasis was placed on avoiding the sharing of OTPs or sensitive information, thinking before clicking on links, and promptly reporting suspicious online activities.

The session witnessed active student participation, with meaningful questions and interactions reflecting their interest and awareness. Teachers and school authorities appreciated the practical, student-friendly approach adopted during the programme.

The initiative highlighted the importance of collaboration between educational institutions, social organisations, and law enforcement agencies in shaping informed, responsible, and resilient young citizens. The programme concluded on a positive note, leaving students better equipped to make informed career choices while staying safe, healthy, and law-abiding in an increasingly complex world.

TechPulse

Cogniflux Cybersecurity Workshops Impact Nearly 8,000 Participants Across Goa

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Intern Rency Gomes, Team Allycaral

The 4th edition of the Cybersecurity Awareness Workshops organised by Cogniflux in Goa, held from January 7 to 10, 2026, concluded as a resounding success, benefiting nearly 8,000 students, parents, working professionals, and government staff across the state. The four-day initiative was led by Dr Rakshit Tandon, one of India’s foremost cybersecurity experts, whose experience and insights played a pivotal role in shaping the programme’s impact.

Conducted across multiple institutions and platforms, the workshops focused on addressing the growing challenges of cybercrime and digital vulnerability in an increasingly connected world. Participants were educated on critical topics such as online fraud, cybercrime prevention, data protection, digital privacy, and the responsible use of the internet and social media. The sessions were designed to be practical and age-appropriate, ensuring that participants from diverse backgrounds could relate to and apply the learnings in their daily digital lives.

Dr Tandon’s interactive and relatable approach helped simplify complex cybersecurity concepts, empowering attendees with actionable knowledge to protect themselves and their families online. The workshops reinforced the importance of awareness, vigilance, and informed digital behaviour as essential tools in combating cyber threats.

The organisers highlighted that achieving such a large-scale outreach would not have been possible without the unwavering support of Cogniflux’s sponsors, partners, and well-wishers. Their continued encouragement and collaboration enabled the initiative to reach thousands across Goa, further strengthening Cogniflux’s mission of creating a safer, more cyber-aware society.

TechPulse

X Admits Lapse in India, Removes 3,500 Grok Posts and Deletes 600 Accounts Over Objectionable Content

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Microblogging platform X has acknowledged lapses in handling objectionable content generated by its AI chatbot Grok, leading to the removal of approximately 3,500 posts and the deletion of over 600 accounts in India. The action came about a week after the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology raised serious concerns over obscene and sexually explicit content linked to the AI tool.

Officials aware of the development said the company accepted its mistake and committed to complying with Indian laws. According to a communication shared with authorities, X assured that it would not allow obscene imagery going forward. However, neither MeitY nor X issued an official public statement detailing the timeline or scope of the action taken.

Grok, developed by Elon Musk’s xAI and integrated into X, has faced intense scrutiny globally after users exploited its image-generation and editing capabilities to create non-consensual and sexualised deepfake images, including those involving women and minors. These images spread rapidly on the platform, prompting investigations by regulators in multiple countries. Indonesia has already suspended access to Grok, while authorities in the European Union and the UK have launched probes into the tool’s safeguards.

MeitY formally wrote to X on January 2, flagging what it described as serious failures in preventing obscene content generated using Grok. The ministry warned that continued non-compliance could result in X losing its safe harbour protection under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act. X sought an extension to respond, citing the Christmas and New Year holidays, with the deadline set for January 7.

Officials indicated that the ministry was dissatisfied with X’s initial response, which largely reiterated existing user policies without detailing concrete enforcement actions. This prompted MeitY to seek a more detailed report outlining specific steps taken against offending content and accounts. The government also clarified that Grok would be treated as a content creator rather than merely a platform tool, a classification that could significantly impact intermediary liability.

The ministry noted that misuse of Grok was not limited to fake accounts but also targeted women who uploaded their own photos or videos, which were then manipulated using AI prompts. The letter cited violations under multiple Indian laws, including provisions of the IT Act, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

X was directed to comprehensively review Grok’s prompt processing, output generation, image handling and safety guardrails, and to enforce strong deterrent measures such as account suspensions and terminations. MeitY officials have stated that compliance by X and other platforms will continue to be closely monitored, warning that any recurrence of violations could invite stricter action.

The controversy has also drawn political attention, with Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi accusing X of monetising harmful behaviour after restricting Grok’s image-generation feature to paid users. The episode underscores growing global concerns around AI-generated content, especially as reports indicate a sharp rise in AI-generated abuse imagery worldwide, intensifying calls for stricter regulation and accountability.

TechPulse

DITE&C and GIPARD Host Two-Day Cybersecurity Workshop to Strengthen Goa’s Digital Safety Framework

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

The Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (DITE&C), in collaboration with the Goa Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development (GIPARD), organised a comprehensive two-day workshop on cybersecurity at GIPARD, Ella Farm, Old Goa. The initiative aimed to sensitise officials from various government departments about the rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape, data protection regulations and best practices in secure data management. The programme was inaugurated by Shri Kabir Shirgaonkar, Director, DITE&C, Dr. Milind Sakhardande, Joint Director, DITE&C, Dr. Seema Fernandes, Assistant Director, GIPARD and Shri Vidyanand Pawar, PI, Cyber Crime Police Station, Goa.

During the inaugural address, Shri Kabir Shirgaonkar highlighted the urgency of strengthening cybersecurity within government systems. He emphasised that with the growing dependence on digital platforms such as Aadhaar, UPI, DigiYatra and the use of emerging technologies like AI and blockchain, both opportunities and risks have increased significantly. He noted that cybersecurity is now a foundational necessity for every government department and stressed that even a single breach could compromise vital public assets and services. Dr. Seema Fernandes reinforced this message by pointing out that cybercrime poses unique challenges as evidence can disappear quickly, making timely action critical. She expressed hope that the workshop would inspire further initiatives to create a more cyber-aware government ecosystem.

The sessions were conducted by experts including Shri Vidyanand Pawar, PI, Cyber Crime Police Station, Goa, Smt Sejal Naik, Junior Project Manager, GEL, Smt Sangeeta Naik from Digital Goa, Shri Sahil Awasthi from Cyber Yoddha, Goa Police and Dr. Harold D’Costa, President of Cyber Security Corporation and Independent Director at SICOM Ltd. Over the two days, participants explored key topics such as the fundamentals of cybersecurity, cyberbullying, the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act 2023, digital arrest case studies, mobile-based frauds, golden rules for staying safe online, India’s cybercrime framework, CERT-In Directions and cyber crisis management strategies. The workshop also featured hands-on simulations and interactive case studies that helped officials understand vulnerabilities in their daily workflows.

Through programmes like this, the Government of Goa continues to strengthen its commitment to digital safety, equipping officials with the knowledge and tools needed to stay ahead of emerging cyber threats and building a more resilient, secure digital ecosystem for the State.