CI-ISAC partners with Google to bolster online scam defences
The Critical Infrastructure – Information Sharing and Analysis Centre (CI-ISAC Australia) has joined the Google Priority Flagger Program to support national efforts in combating online fraud and scams.
The partnership will enable faster detection and takedown of fraudulent content targeting Australian organisations and individuals, combining Google's platform expertise with CI-ISAC's sector-spanning threat intelligence network.
Priority response
The Google Priority Flagger Program allows selected partners to report phishing sites, scam advertisements, malicious applications, and other online threats through dedicated channels, ensuring flagged issues are given priority by Google's security teams. Under this scheme, CI-ISAC will set up a specific reporting mechanism for its members, expediting the review and mitigation of suspicious content.
CI-ISAC Australia, which operates as an industry-led, not-for-profit enterprise, supports cyber defences across all 11 of Australia's legislated critical infrastructure sectors. These sectors include energy, water, healthcare, transport, and communications. The aim is to reinforce protections against scams that could jeopardise service continuity, undermine public confidence, or expose sensitive information.
"Our participation in the Google Priority Flagger Program is a key enabler for how CI-ISAC extends valuable cyber capabilities to members," said David Sandell, co-founder and CEO of CI-ISAC Australia. "Deepening our work with Google to identify downstream threats within the ecosystem is another example of our collective defence approach to build situational awareness and safeguard critical infrastructure entities across Australia."
Complex criminal landscape
Authorities and experts have noted a notable rise in scam and fraud activities over recent years, with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's Scamwatch service reporting annual combined losses in the billions of AUD. These activities frequently target not only individuals, but also businesses and providers of essential services. Organised crime groups, many based outside Australia, are cited as drivers behind these trends.
"Scams are often not orchestrated by individuals, but by sophisticated organised crime units operating across borders," said Bec Turner, Government Affairs & Public Policy representative at Google Australia. "Dealing with this complex criminal threat requires cross-sector collaboration, and we are pleased for CI-ISAC to join the Google Priority Flagger Program in Australia. This development is a testament to our shared dedication to a safer online experience for Australians, and we look forward to making a positive impact together."
Synchronized intelligence
The initiative is now operational across all members of CI-ISAC. Fraud and scam reports submitted through the programme will synchronise with existing CI-ISAC automated and ad-hoc threat sharing channels. Both Google and the CI-ISAC National Intelligence Office (NIO) will support these channels, ensuring reports are curated and prioritised according to their urgency. The approach aims to facilitate the quick identification and removal of threats, minimising potential impact to Australian critical systems.
For example, should a scam site attempt to target one company within a given sector, the integration between reporting and intelligence can enable a rapid response to prevent the attack from spreading to other entities, both within the same field and across other critical domains.
Context and collaboration
CI-ISAC was established to act as a neutral facilitator for sharing both technical and non-technical cyber threat intelligence among all infrastructure sectors covered by Australian law, alongside relevant governmental bodies and key suppliers. The organisation promotes rapid detection of new cyber threats, coordination of incident responses, and improved resilience for infrastructure across the national landscape.