Indian government issues notice to Facebook asking for information on the Cambridge Analytica data breach

tech2 News StaffMar 29, 2018 09:17:53 IST

In order to assert that personal data of Indian voters and users had not been compromised in the recent Cambridge Analytica fiasco, the government has issued a notice to Facebook on Wednesday, asking into details of whether there was a possible leak of information in India as well.

A 3D plastic representation of the Facebook logo. Reuters.

According to a report by the Economic Times, in the letter addressed to Facebook by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the government also asked the social media giant whether the data has been used to manipulate the Indian electoral process in any way.

Facebook has been given time till 7 April 2018 to respond to the letter.

The letter also attempts to find out whether Facebook has any safeguards in place to check if any data was shared earlier in case of a leak and what are the current steps being taken up to ensure that personal user data is safe.

"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.

The notice to Facebook comes on the back a notice issued to Cambridge Analytica on Friday. In the letter, the government had sought details on whether the British data firm had been engaged in any assignment to utilise data in India.

Cambridge Analytica was given time until 31 March to respond, however, a response is yet to be lodged.