Panchkula: CyberPeace Foundation, in collaboration with Haryana Police, launched the Cyber First Responder Program at Indradhanush Auditorium in Panchkula on Tuesday. The initiative is aimed at strengthening cyber resilience among citizens and law enforcement in response to increasing digital threats and AI-driven cybercrimes.
The event included keynote addresses, awareness sessions, and technical workshops designed to equip participants with tools to counter phishing, identity theft, ransomware, and AI-powered impersonation.
Smt. Rekha Sharma, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, and former Chairperson of the National Commission for Women, attended as Guest of Honour. She emphasized the importance of collective responsibility in cybersecurity, noting that the outreach activities, including street plays and awareness vans, helped engage a wide audience. “As AI-driven threats grow, cybersecurity must become a shared responsibility,” Sharma said.
Dr. Veerendra Kr Mishra, IPS, Assistant Inspector General of Police, and Sh. Shibas Kaviraj, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Panchkula, were also present. Addressing the gathering, Virendar Mishra, IPS, highlighted the vulnerability of India’s youth, stating, “With 65% of India’s population under 35, our youth are both the most connected and the most vulnerable. Cybersecurity and AI safety must be embedded in everyday awareness.”
Vineet Kumar, Founder and Global President of CyberPeace, said the initiative seeks to empower both citizens and law enforcement to act as first responders to digital threats. “Cyber threats are evolving rapidly, and AI is amplifying their scale and sophistication,” he said.
As an official pre-summit event to the India-AI Impact Summit 2026, the program brought together students, citizens, policymakers, law enforcement, and industry leaders. Sessions covered digital safety practices, AI risk mitigation strategies, and cybercrime response training for law enforcement.
The Cyber First Responder Program forms part of CyberPeace’s broader mission to promote proactive cybersecurity and digital resilience. It is also linked to the CyberPeace Corps, a volunteer-led initiative run in collaboration with Google.org.