After sending a notice last week to M/s Cambridge Analytica seeking details relating to breach of data from Facebook to influence elections in India, the Indian Government has now asked Facebook to answer a series of question on data theft.
The Ministry of Electronics & IT on Wednesday sent a letter to the social media giant seeking its response to the following questions latest by April 7. The Ministry wants the Facebook to explain whether the personal data of Indian voters and users has been compromised by Cambridge Analytica or any other downstream entity in any manner, and if so, how was it compromisedIJ
Further, the notice wants the social media giant to answer whether Facebook or its related or downstream agencies utilising Facebook’s data have previously been engaged by any entities to manipulate the Indian electoral process.
In case, any such downstream entity misused data from Facebook, the Government wants to know what protection is available to keep users’ data safe. The Government also wants the Facebook to list specific steps proposed to prevent any misuse of personal data for potential interference in, or manipulation of the Indian electoral processIJ
“Facebook today has its largest footprint in India in terms of its user base and therefore what proactive measures are being taken to ensure the safety, security and privacy of such large user data and to prevent its misuse by any third partyIJ” said the notice.
On March 23, the Government had issued a notice to Cambridge Analytica — the firm at the centre of Facebook users’ data breach — seeking its response by March 31 on whether it was involved in misuse of data to profile Indians and influence their voting behaviour.
The notice also sought the company’s response on the entities which engaged Cambridge Analytica, the method used by it for possession of data and whether consent was taken from users.
“The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India, has issued a notice to Cambridge Analytica, wherein the serious breach of propriety and misuse of data intended to profile and influence voting behaviour has been highlighted,” the I-T ministry had said in a statement.