Areas of Expertise
Kanishk advises various ministries of the Central Government such as the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), NITI Aayog (Formerly Planning Commission) and the National Security Council Secretariat (Prime Minister’s Office) on Digital Expansion, Cyber Laws, Strategy, Policy, Governance, Data Protection and Security Emerging Technology (5G, IoT/OT).
With over 18 years of experience, Kanishk is a leading voice from the cybersecurity domain. During his association with the field of cybersecurity, he has advised/helped organisations to protect themselves against advanced threats, online harms and misinformation. His expertise, in the field of cybersecurity, has helped organizations across sectors safeguard their digital assets.
Kanishk is an expert in matters of cyber defence and security, providing guidance on cybersecurity and advanced threat intelligence to governments and companies. He has advised global defence and security companies and works closely with governments on cybersecurity strategy. His expertise helps clients protect their critical assets and critical infrastructure from emerging cyber threats.
Years of working with and advising governments, tech related issues and on emerging technologies has endowed Kanishk with extensive experience in public policy. Kanishk always makes it a point to put forward his views, especially when comments, on the same, are invited. He has also helped organisations put forward their views, on policy matters.
Kanishk is an expert in matters concerning international trade and cyber diplomatic relations and has advised companies, across industries, in the said field. He provides guidance on development and compliance to security policies such as European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), responds to cyber incidents and is involved in training of stakeholders for best practices in cyber security.
Using his rich experience of working in the field of technology, Kanishk helps his clients understand the nuances of the ever-changing digital technology space. He advises companies and governments on how to implement security standards and ensure compliance of the same. At a macro level these efforts help in building a safer Internet for all.
Engagements
With Governments
With the Industry
With Global Development Agencies
With Not-for-Profits
Media
“Viral ’80s AI Trend Is A Trap!” Warns Cyber Expert Dr Kanishk Gaur
Dr Kanishk Gaur, Founder of India Future Foundation, warned that viral AI face-transformation trends Harvest Personally Identifiable Information (PII), such as biometrics and retina scans, which third-party platforms exploit without data-sharing safeguards. He cautioned that uploading unmasked photos exposes users and children to deepfake manipulation, identity theft, and financial fraud, calling on the government to enforce strict masking, watermarking, and digital protection laws rather than participating in social media crazes.
Inside the Evolution of AI-Driven Investment and Cross-Border Cyber Scams
Dr Kanishk Gaur, Founder of India Future Foundation, warned that international cyber syndicates are increasingly using deepfake videos of public figures, fake SEBI certificates, and compromised data to orchestrate large-scale scams. He highlighted how scam operations have shifted toward locations like Cambodia and Sri Lanka while using malware-laced APK files and cryptocurrency trails to evade tracking.
Big Tech Acting Like “Global Governments” Poses Threat To Democracy, Warns Expert
Dr Kanishk Gaur, Founder of India Future Foundation, warned that failure to strictly enforce social media guidelines allows platforms to operate like sovereign entities competing with democratic systems. He asserted that an apology for deepfake ads and harmful content is insufficient, calling for EU-style regulations and potential legal consequences for corporate executives.
Deepfake Defence Requires More Than Human Eyes
Dr Kanishk Gaur, Founder of India Future Foundation, highlighted that low-code and no-code AI tools have significantly lowered the technical barrier for cybercriminals to create convincing deepfakes in minutes. He warned that attackers are combining synthetic audio, video, phishing emails, and fake customer support profiles to exploit user trust.
AI-Led Deception Demands New Legal Frameworks, Beyond Empty Apologies
Dr Kanishk Gaur, Founder of India Future Foundation, stated that current IT laws and intermediary guidelines fail to combat AI-driven deception, election interference, and digital harms, arguing that blank apologies are meaningless without legal accountability.
Should Meta Be Treated As A “Publisher” Over Paid Content Boosting?
Dr Kanishk Gaur, Founder of India Future Foundation, said Meta’s admission of taking money to boost content raises questions over its status as an intermediary, arguing that platforms acting like “global governments” need stricter compliance checks and penalties, similar to regulations enforced in the European Union.
Published Work
Dr Kanishk Gaur Recognized with Rising Star Award at Inaugural Asian Founders Awards
Dr Kanishk Gaur, founder of Athenian Tech, was honored with the Rising Star Award at the first-ever Asian Founders Awards in Leicester, recognizing his impact in technology and online safety. Inspired to launch Athenian Tech after helping a victim of an online fake profile scam, Dr Gaur established the firm to build AI-driven solutions protecting individuals and businesses from digital threats, emphasizing that online security is a universal issue affecting everyone.
Athenian Tech Expands AI Cybersecurity In Indonesia
Athenian Tech has partnered with Indonesia-based PT Duta Firza Mulia to strengthen AI-driven cybersecurity capabilities across the region. Dr Kanishk Gaur, CEO of Athenian Tech, says, “Indonesia is one of the fastest-growing digital economies in the world, and with that growth comes new cyber, AI risk, and misinformation-driven threats. Our partnership with PT Duta Firza Mulia marks a major step in expanding our capabilities in Southeast Asia. Together, we aim to strengthen how governments and critical industries detect, respond to, and stay ahead of emerging cyber and AI-enabled risks”.
Inside The Dark Web: How Telegram Became Paper Leak Hub In India
Athenian Tech’s Threat Intelligence Report reveals how fraud networks on Telegram and the dark web exploited exam anxiety, selling fake or leaked papers for major exams including NEET, UPSC, and SSC CGL for amounts ranging from $60 to $500 in Bitcoin.
Is WhatsApp’s New Username Feature About Privacy or Monetisation?
Dr Kanishk Gaur, CEO of Athenian Tech, said true protection against impersonation requires robust biometric validation, noting that alphanumeric handle reservations without rigorous cryptographic authentication remain a stop-gap measure that fails to secure public trust against identity fraud.
Tata Electronics Cyberattack Exposes Supply Chain Risks Across Electronics Sector
Dr Kanishk Gaur, CEO of Athenian Tech, said the Tata Electronics data breach reflects how modern cyberattacks have evolved into AI-enabled extortion campaigns increasingly targeting third-party suppliers across the electronics and semiconductor supply chain.
Debate Continues on Rules Governing AI Use in Courts
Dr Kanishk Gaur, CEO of Athenian Tech, highlighted the positive move of the Supreme Court drawing a clear line between AI as a tool and AI as a decision-maker, noting that India has taken a step on judicial AI governance that many countries are still debating.
Let’s Connect
- kanishk@indiafuturefoundation.com
Let’s Connect
- kanishk@indiafuturefounation.com