Centre Issues AI Fraud Alert, Orders Ministries To Review Cyber Security Immediately | Exclusive

Last Updated:June 27, 2026, 10:11 IST

CNN-News18 has accessed MeitY’s advisory directing all Central government ministries and departments to review vulnerabilities and strengthen defences against AI-enabled attacks.

The Centre has sounded a major alert over the growing threat of artificial intelligence-powered cyber fraud, asking all ministries and departments of the Government of India to “immediately review their cyber security posture" and strengthen their defences against emerging AI-enabled attacks.

CNN-News18 has a copy of the Centre’s latest missive.

In the communication sent to all Central government ministries, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) warned that the rapid and widespread availability of artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing the cyber security landscape, enabling threat actors to launch more sophisticated, targeted and large-scale attacks than ever before.

The ministry said cyber criminals are increasingly using AI to create highly personalised phishing campaigns capable of deceiving users through convincing emails, messages, voice clones and deepfake content.

It also cautioned that AI tools are helping attackers automate reconnaissance, allowing them to identify vulnerabilities and map government networks at unprecedented speed and scale before launching cyber attacks.

The communiqué also warns that “threat actors can carry out cyber attacks at greater speed and scale using advanced malware".

The advisory comes months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi repeatedly cautioned citizens about the misuse of AI, particularly deepfake videos and digitally manipulated content designed to spread misinformation or facilitate financial fraud. The Prime Minister has urged people to remain vigilant against rapidly evolving AI-enabled scams.

To counter the emerging threat, MeitY has circulated a fresh set of cyber security guidelines focused specifically on AI-enabled risks. The advisory calls upon all ministries and departments to conduct an immediate review of their cyber security preparedness, assess vulnerabilities, strengthen monitoring systems and ensure that security protocols are updated to deal with AI-driven threats.

“AI-enabled cyber exploitation allows adversaries to identify and exploit vulnerabilities, exposed services, weak identities, insecure API’s and misconfigured systems much faster than before. As organizations become more dependent on interconnected digital infrastructure, cloud platforms, software supply chains, operational technologies, and aI-enabled systems, the potential impact of AI-driven cyber threats is increasing across all sectors," the Centre’s letter dated June 10, 2026, says.

Officials have been asked to enhance cyber hygiene, improve detection capabilities and remain alert to increasingly sophisticated phishing attempts and social engineering attacks powered by artificial intelligence.

A senior official said the latest directive underscores the government’s growing concern that, while AI offers transformative opportunities, it is also becoming a powerful tool in the hands of cyber criminals.

“The Centre’s message is clear: government networks must rapidly adapt to an evolving threat environment where cyber attacks are becoming faster, smarter and far more difficult to detect," another senior official told CNN-News18.

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Aman Sharma

Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Minister...Read More

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