By Shreya Maskara
Days after events surrounding the data breach of 50 million Facebook users became public, founder Mark Zuckerberg apologised to users of the social network and pledged to take steps to protect users and their data.
“We have a responsibility to protect your data, and if we can’t then we don’t deserve to serve you,” said Zuckerberg in a Facebook post, his first since the executives of British data analysis company Cambridge Analytica revealed how they harvested millions of Facebook profiles since 2014 to political campaigning.
Zuckerberg’s three-point action plan
In his post, Zuckerberg details how in 2013, Aleksandr Kogan, an academic from Cambridge University, built a personality quiz app and misused it to share data with Cambridge Analytica. According to Zuckerberg, the company found out about this breach in 2015 and demanded all involved entities delete the data that had been acquired “improperly.”
“This was a breach of trust between Kogan, Cambridge Analytica and Facebook,” said Zuckerberg. “But it was also a breach of trust between Facebook and the people who share their data with us and expect us to protect it. We need to fix that.”
Zuckerberg went on to detail how the company will work to restrict the access developers have to user data, and also promote an already existing tool that helps users revoke permission to apps from accessing their data.
“We will learn from this experience to secure our platform further and make our community safer for everyone going forward,” added the founder.
Also Read: Cambridge Analytica Scandal: Firm’s CEO suspended; Lawmakers demand Mark Zuckerberg’s response
Indian politicians indulge in blame game
As the events of the scandal unfolded, it has also solicited a response at home.
IT and law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad issued a stern warning to the social media giant, saying “any data theft of Indians…shall not be tolerated.” He added, ”We have got stringent powers in the IT Act, we shall use it, including summoning you to India.”
A screenshot of the website of Cambridge Analytica’s India partner Ovleno Business Intelligence, which has since been taken down, which shows the BJP, JD(U) and Congress as its clients.However, speaking to reporters outside parliament on Wednesday, Prasad added that he believes the Congress party has links with Cambridge Analytica.
There are media reports of alleged data impropriety by chief of data analytics of Congress by his previous employer. It's not just a question of association of Congress with a rogue company but a bigger challenge to free & fair elections & democratic values. #FacebookDataBreach pic.twitter.com/F3DTEIdOEf
— Ravi Shankar Prasad (Modi ka Parivar) (@rsprasad) March 21, 2018
“My question to the party is whether to win elections, Congress will depend on data manipulation and theft of data? What is the role of Cambridge Analytica in the social media profile of Rahul Gandhi?” Prasad asked, setting off a political blame game.
Also Read: Explainer: Facebook, Cambridge Analytica and the “biggest breach” in tech history
Responding to Prasad’s allegations, the Congress pointed fingers at the ruling BJP and its ally the Janata Dal (United), saying the parties have previously used Cambridge Analytica’s services.
However, according to news reports, both the BJP and Congress were in talks with the firm to set up contracts for the 2019 general poll. Besides, both parties have also ignored the fact that the website of Cambridge Analytica’s India partner, Ghaziabad-based Ovleno Business Intelligence (OBI), lists the BJP and Congress as clients on its website, which has since been taken down in the country.
Interestingly, OBI CEO Amrish Tyagi is the son of K.C. Tyagi of the JD(U), which is part of the ruling NDA.
Amidst the political back-and-forth as the Congress and BJP have sought to one-up the other, what’s forgotten are the serious issues of breach of privacy and data theft. The government, for instance, has not yet announced if it will initiate a probe into Cambridge Analytica’s dealings in India. Nor has the Congress said what it plans to do as the opposition to address these issues within its own house as well.
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