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The government has issued a notice to Facebook on Wednesday seeking details of whether the personal data of Indian voters and users has been compromised by British data firm Cambridge Analytica or any other entities.
It has also sought details on whether it the data has been used to manipulate the Indian electoral process. Facebook has been given time till April 7, 2018 to respond to the letter by the ministry of electronics and IT (MEITY).
The government had earlier issued a notice seeking details relating to breach of data from Facebook to Cambridge Analytica last Friday.
Facebook has been asked to 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 compromised?” said a statement issued by MEITY.
The letter also asked “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?”
The government has also sought details on if any such entity misused data from Facebook, what is the protection available to the data subject and what are the specific steps proposed to be taken by Facebook to prevent any misuse of personal data for potential interference in, or manipulation of the Indian electoral process?
“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 party?” said the letter.
In its earlier notice issued to Cambridge Analytica, the government had sought details on whether they have been engaged in any assignment to utilize data of Indians from the above cited breach. The company was given time till March 31 to respond.
On Tuesday, Christopher Wylie, the Cambridge Analytica whistleblower at the heart of the Facebook privacy scandal, told British lawmakers that his company worked extensively in India and that he “believe” Congress was a client at the regional level.
“I believe their client was Congress but I know that they have done all kinds of project. I don’t remember a national project but I know regionally. India’s so big that one state can be as big as Britain,” Wylie said as part of his deposition.
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