The government in response to the allegations of data misuse of Facebook users has sent a notice to U.K.-based Cambridge Analytica which has been accused of misusing data of 50 million Facebook users asking it to disclose if data of Indian users was used, and to name the entities that used their services. There are serious allegations of violation of fundamental right to privacy over the firm. The firm has been asked to reply by March 31.
The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India has issued a notice, in the first instance, to Cambridge Analytica, wherein the serious breach of propriety and misuse of data intended to profile and influence voting behaviour has been highlighted,” an official statement said.
Political parties in India, including the ruling BJP and the Congress, have accused each other of engaging the services of Cambridge Analytica, leading to questions over influencing elections “through questionable means” and thereby altering the fair process of elections.
“The fairness of Indian democracy and electoral process is a matter of pride and any attempt to influence the sanctity of the electoral franchise through dubious and questionable means is unacceptable,” the Ministry of Electronics and IT said in their statement.
The notice addressed to Cambridge Analytica seeks immediate response to six questions, including “whether they have been engaged in any assignment to utilise data of Indians from the above cited breach? Who are the entities that have engaged them for the above?”
The Government has also asked them to clarify that how did they come to be in possession of such data? And was consent taken from the individuals? “How such data collected was used? Was there any profiling done on the basis of such data?,” the Ministry asked.
This issue of data misuse after the right to privacy being reocgnized as a fundamental right by the Supreme Court is a even more serious issue and immediate action for punishing the wrongdoers have to be taken.