ugc_banner

India issues notice to Facebook, asks for reply by April 5

WION Web Team
New Delhi, Delhi, IndiaUpdated: Mar 28, 2018, 07:28 PM IST
main img
File photo. (Image source: Flickr) Photograph:(Others)

India has issued a notice to Facebook on Wednesday on issues over breaching data and influencing electoral processes.  

The decision comes after a notice was issued to Cambridge Analytica recently. Sources say that Facebook is expected to reply by April 5. The notice came even before the deadline for responses given to Cambridge Analytica March 31.

After reports of Facebook breaching data and influencing electoral processes, the government on March 21 had warned the social networking giant saying it can even summon Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook if found guilty

Facebook has the largest user base in India and the current situation is very serious for the Indian democracy.

Some questions posed in the notice included - 

  • Whether data of Indian voters was compromised? 
  • Have elections been manipulated in the past by Facebook?
  • What kind of protection is available to users?
  • What steps is Facebook taking to prevent misuse? 
  • How can Facebook ensure safety, security of users?

Last week, Minister of Electronics and IT, and Law & Justice, Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “Facebook is welcome to operate in India. I am happy that it has the largest footprint in India with around 20 crore users, but any attempt by Facebook or vendor like Cambridge Analytica to influence elections will not be tolerated.”

He had said the matter has become critical in India too because Facebook and Cambridge Analytica are found to be involved in influencing elections in an undesirable manner and the company to admitting the same.