Mammootty named Kerala Police’s cyber security captain

Malayalam actor Mammootty has been appointed as Kerala Police's 'Cyber Security Captain' as the state launches a new initiative to raise awareness about online fraud and cybercrime. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala unveiled the appointment at an event held at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Kochi on Saturday, alongside the launch of the CLICK programme (Community Led Initiative for Cyber Resilient Kerala).

This program aims to make Kerala more resilient to cyber threats by 2027. Mammootty emphasized the importance of responsible internet use during his address. He urged young people to take an active role in preventing cybercrime and advised parents to guide their children towards the responsible use of technology. Mammootty cautioned against giving children smartphones immediately when they demand them, suggesting that basic feature phones could be a more suitable option until children are mature enough to handle mobile devices responsibly.

He also highlighted the dual nature of technology, stating that it could be used for both good and bad purposes, and stressed the need to recognize and prevent online crimes. The actor presented CLICK Captain caps to 10 selected students as part of the initiative. Chennithala pointed out that preventing cybercrime before it occurs is more effective than investigating cases after the damage has been done.

Last year, over 54,000 cyber fraud complaints were registered in Kerala, indicating that criminals often exploit people's limited knowledge of technology. Chennithala urged people to adopt strong passwords, regularly update their applications, protect personal data, and avoid clicking on suspicious links. He also stressed the importance of reporting any incidents of cyber fraud to the national cybercrime helpline at 1930 for immediate assistance.