BACKGROUND AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES: The "Tobacco Monitor" app, developed by Mary Anne Charity Trust, empowers individuals, professional associations, and organizations across India to fight tobacco use. Users report tobacco violations, routed to authorities under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA, 2003). The app provides updates on tobacco control efforts. However, manual processes for reporting and tracking violations present challenges in scalability, response time, and data accuracy.
INTERVENTION OR RESPONSE: The app has been successfully implemented in Assam, Jammu Kashmir, Tripura, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar. Implementation is underway in Odisha, with plans to expand to other states. AI will address language barriers by providing real-time translation and support, ensuring effective reporting from diverse linguistic backgrounds. AI will also adhere to state-specific acts by automatically approving or rejecting complaints based on each state's regulations, streamlining the process and ensuring compliance with local laws. AI-driven analytics will identify patterns and trends in tobacco violations, enabling targeted and efficient interventions.
RESULTS AND IMPACT: Integrating AI into the "Tobacco Monitor" app is expected to enhance its functionality. Automating violation detection and improving data analysis will provide accurate and timely responses to reported violations. Personalized alerts and recommendations will increase public engagement and compliance, leading to faster response times, more targeted interventions, and a stronger impact on tobacco control efforts across India.
CONCLUSIONS: : Incorporating AI into the "Tobacco Monitor" app holds significant promise for advancing tobacco control efforts in India. By leveraging AI technology, the app can overcome current implementation challenges and achieve greater scalability, efficiency, and user engagement. This will support the ongoing efforts of individuals and organizations dedicated to reducing tobacco use and its associated health risks, aligning with the goals of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).