Bengaluru, June 11 (Reporter) In a significant step towards enhancing digital safety in Karnataka, Bharti Airtel on Wednesday announced that it has blocked over 1.8 lakh malicious links and protected more than 2.3 million users across the state within just 25 days of launching its AI-powered fraud detection system. The system, which is part of a nationwide rollout, is automatically enabled for all Airtel mobile and broadband customers. It scans and filters suspicious links transmitted through SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, Instagram, E-mail, and other browsers. Leveraging real-time threat intelligence, the platform examines over one billion URLs daily and blocks harmful content in under 100 milliseconds. “This technology works silently and efficiently. For instance, if a user in Mangalore clicks on a suspicious link claiming to track a delayed package, the system scans it instantly and redirects the user to a warning page if it is unsafe,” Airtel said in a statement. A warning message such as “Blocked! Airtel found this site dangerous!” is displayed to prevent further user action. Commenting on the initiative, Rajnish Verma, CEO – Karnataka, Bharti Airtel, said: “At Airtel, we are dedicated to protecting our customers from various types of fraud. By incorporating our network with an AI-driven fraud detection solution, we guarantee that our customers are protected from all new threats without requiring any action on their part.” The solution, operating in the background with no need for user installation, is offered free of cost. Its AI-driven fraud alerts are delivered in multiple languages, including Kannada, ensuring accessibility in districts with low digital literacy or where English is not commonly used. With Karnataka being one of the most digitally advanced states, cities like Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Belagavi, Chikkamagaluru, and Hassan have witnessed a rise in fraud attempts via phishing links, fake courier messages, and bogus banking alerts. Airtel’s solution acts as a statewide digital shield, offering protection to senior citizens, homemakers, students, and first-time smartphone users alike. Nationally, Airtel said it has shielded over 5.6 crore users in just 25 days since the launch of this AI-based system. Bharti Airtel, headquartered in India, is one of the world’s top three mobile operators with over 550 million customers across 15 countries in India and Africa. The company also operates in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka through associate entities...////...