Google rolls out Hyderabad hub for online safety: Launches first Indian Google Safety Engineering Centre

Google has officially opened the Google Safety Engineering Centre, India (GSEC India) in Hyderabad its first such facility in the Asia-Pacific region and only the fourth globally. The launch was led by Telangana Chief Minister Shri Anumula Revanth Reddy and IT Minister Shri D. Sridhar Babu, a day after Google unveiled its Safety Charter for India’s AI-led transformation in Delhi.

GSEC India will act as a central hub for turning Google’s safety commitments into real-world solutions tailored to India’s digital landscape. The facility brings together experts in privacy, security engineering, and cybersecurity under one roof.

The centre will focus on three key areas outlined in Google’s Safety Charter: protecting users from online scams and fraud, enhancing cybersecurity for government and enterprise systems, and ensuring responsible AI development. It will also serve as a regional hub for scaling these solutions across the broader Asia-Pacific region.

Operationalising India’s Digital Safety Blueprint: GSEC India Takes Centre Stage

As India faces a growing wave of digital threats ranging from sophisticated APT attacks (with APAC accounting for 50% of global activity) to projected cybercrime losses nearing Rs 20,000 crore by 2025, Google’s new Safety Engineering Centre in Hyderabad (GSEC India) aims to be a proactive line of defense.

The facility will deploy advanced AI and large language models (LLMs) to deliver real-time scam alerts on Android via Gemini Nano, enhance fraud detection across Google Pay, Gmail, and Search, and strengthen Play Protect. It also addresses challenges like AI-generated deception through red teaming, adversarial testing, and watermarking tools like SynthID.

Beyond tech, GSEC India will foster ecosystem-wide collaboration through platforms like the Global Signals Exchange (GSE), ramp up user education efforts across India’s diverse linguistic landscape, and support cutting-edge research such as Post-Quantum Cryptography in partnership with institutions like IIT-Madras.

A Longstanding Telangana Partnership

Google’s roots in Telangana date back to 2004, when it opened its first Indian office in Hyderabad—now one of its largest bases outside the U.S. Over the years, this partnership has driven initiatives like AnthroKrishi (using AI in agriculture), traffic optimization with Hyderabad Police, and the Google Startup Hub to promote AI adoption. Programs with TASK have also helped equip local youth with job-ready digital skills through access to Google’s IT Support Certificates.

A Global Hub for Responsible Innovation

GSEC India isn’t just a local initiative; it’s a strategic part of Google’s global safety vision. The centre will lead the development of scalable, responsible AI practices, support policy engagement across APAC, and create user-centric transparency tools. It marks India’s rise as a vital force in shaping global digital safety standards.

The launch of GSEC India is more than a facility opening—it’s a signal that India will play a central role in building a safer, smarter internet for billions worldwide.