CBI initiates probe against Facebook, Cambridge Analytica over data breaching scandal

New Delhi, August 9: Acting tough on both Facebook and Cambridge Analytica over data breaching scandal, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday initiated a preliminary probe.

 

The CBI has initiated preliminary probe which is normally the first step to decide whether the allegations deserve a full-blown investigation through an FIR or not after receiving a reference in this regard from the PM Modi-led central government.

The move comes months after the Indian government served notices to Facebook and Cambridge Analytica for clarification. In March and April this year, the IT Ministry had asked several questions seeking clarification on the issue.

However, both the firms did not respond to the subsequent communication, therefore it is suspected that it may have been involved in illegally obtaining data of Indians which could be misused and therefore CBI probe is initiated. Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had told the Rajya Sabha last month that the probe will be handed over to the CBI.

In the month of March this year, Indian IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad raised suspicions that Congress has a tie-up with Cambridge Analytica which have allegedly shared confidential data of Facebook users to help in the poll campaign. While advising Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to pay attention to India's IT minister's warning, Union Minister asked Congress President Rahul Gandhi to explain the role of Cambridge Analytica in his social media profile.

Cambridge Analytica met with Congress leader in last August to present a plan to help Congress win 2019 general elections through a data-driven strategy to target voters on social media, analyzing online user behaviour and connecting the dots across different citizen databases.

Hours after Ravi Shankar Prasad’s press conference, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg admitted mistakes and outlined steps to protect user data in light of a privacy scandal involving data-mining firm, Cambridge Analytica.

Days after, the Trump administration confirmed that Facebook is under stringent investigation into its privacy practices, amidst allegations that its connection with British company Cambridge Analytica resulted in misuse of personal data of some 50 million users.

Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg accepted the full responsibility of the Cambridge Analytica scandal and apologized to the US Congress for not doing enough to protect users personal data.

Cambridge Analytica was created in 2013 to participate in American politics. It is an offshoot of British firm Strategic Communication Laboratories, which provides data, analytics and strategy to governments and military organizations worldwide. Some of its key campaigns include 2016 US Presidential elections for Donald Trump and Leave EU campaign in the very early stages of its Brexit campaign.