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Google announced $6 million in funding for The Asia Foundation and the Tech for Good Institute to support scam-resilience work in Asia Pacific. The company also outlined product protections, industry partnerships and an expansion of its scam-awareness game; details on project timelines and outcomes were not provided.
Google announced $6 million in funding for The Asia Foundation and the Tech for Good Institute to support scam-prevention work in Asia Pacific, alongside expanded digital safety tools and partnerships. The initiative targets a region where Google cites a UN report estimating scam losses of up to $114.1 billion in 2025 across East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Google said the grants will support training for local communities, the development of AI-powered defense prototypes, and work to give policymakers information that can help strengthen responses to scams. The company did not specify how the $6 million will be divided between the two organizations, or provide project-by-project budgets and deadlines.
The company also described product measures. Android launched Fake Call Detection, which Google says is designed to identify AI-driven phone-call impersonation. Pixel devices have scam detection for messages in several popular messaging apps, and Google said it plans to bring the protection to more Android users later this year. It is also expanding Android developer verification to apps distributed outside Google Play.
On coordination, Google said it signed the Industry Accord Against Online Scams and Fraud with industry peers and helped establish the Japan Anti-Scam Alliance, a public-private effort. Google.org also helped launch the Global Anti-Scams Philanthropy Collaborative. The company said its educational game Be Scam Ready, already available in Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan, will expand to Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
Funding Local Scam Defenses
The announcement combines consumer-facing technology with training and institutional coordination. Scams can cross borders and use multiple channels, so a defense focused only on one app or company may not reach people facing threats through calls, messages or fraudulent software. Google’s stated approach aims to address several of those points, while involving local organizations and policymakers.
The scale cited by Google underscores the potential exposure, but does not show that this particular program will reduce losses. The $114.1 billion figure is an estimate reported in a UN report and covers multiple countries and territories in 2025. Google did not provide an evaluation plan or targets for measuring the effects of the new grants, tools or partnerships.
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Tools and Partnerships Already Underway
The new funding builds on programs Google says it already supports, including work with Bamboo Builders in Singapore and the Taiwan FactCheck Center to provide locally tailored training. It also expands on the ASEAN Foundation’s Scam Ready ASEAN initiative, which Google describes as offering scam-prevention resources to millions in the region.
Google framed its announcement as a combination of built-in device protections, industry cooperation and community education. Its post says the industry accord was signed earlier this year but does not state the date. It also does not list all signatories or explain how threat information will be shared among participating organizations.
““Tackling these highly organized networks requires a unified effort.””
Budgets, Reach and Results
Google has not published a detailed breakdown of the $6 million grant, including how much each recipient will receive, when projects will begin, or how many people they are expected to reach. The announcement also does not identify the AI defense prototypes or explain how they will be tested and deployed.
The company says additional Android users will receive Pixel’s messaging scam detection later this year, but it does not specify the rollout date, eligible devices or countries. The source also gives no independent assessment of the products’ performance, and does not say how program outcomes will be measured. The cited estimate that more than 40% of ASEAN consumers experience scams is attributed to Google’s account of a recent UN report; the post provides no survey methodology or time period for that statistic.
Regional Rollouts and Grant Work
Google says Be Scam Ready is set to expand to five more countries: Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. It also says scam detection will reach additional Android users later this year. The company has not supplied firm launch dates for either expansion.
The Asia Foundation and the Tech for Good Institute are expected to carry out the grant-supported work, including community training and prototype development. Further information about budgets, local partners, deployment schedules and results will be needed to judge the program’s reach and effect. Google said it would continue advocating for a collaborative approach, but did not announce a schedule for future updates.
Key Questions
What did Google announce?
Google announced $6 million in funding for The Asia Foundation and the Tech for Good Institute for scam-resilience work in Asia Pacific, alongside product and partnership efforts.
What will the funding support?
Google says the work will include community training, development of AI-powered defense prototypes and information for policymakers. A budget split and project timetable have not been released.
Which countries are slated to get Be Scam Ready?
Google says the educational game will expand to Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. It is already available in Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan, according to the company.
When will more Android users get scam detection?
Google said it plans to bring Pixel’s messaging scam detection to additional Android users later this year, but did not provide a date or list of eligible countries and devices.
How much are scams estimated to cost in the region?
Google cites a UN report estimating losses of up to $114.1 billion in 2025 across East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand. That estimate is not a measurement of the impact of Google’s programs.
Source: blog.google
