Cong, BJP wash data linen in public

The row over  theft of personal data on social media intensified on Monday with the BJP accusing the Congress of sharing users’ data to a  Singapore-based firm after  the Congress president Rahul Gandhi referred to a media reports  alleging personal information, including e-mails and IDs of users on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mobile App, were being  leaked to foreign companies.

The Congress president added more fuel to the fire on the leakage  controversy by  calling Modi a “Big Boss”, and alleging that the NaMo App “secretly records audio, video and contacts” of users’ friends and families. The Congress leader’s  tweet surfaced  immediately after the BJP accused the Congress of data theft through its official App. While Rahul had accused the Prime Minister  of leaking user data to American firms, the BJP said the Congress was giving data to companies in Singapore.

But even as the Congress sought to turn the tables on the BJP,  the  Opposition party deleted its own app saying URL for their membership app has been defunct for a while inviting harsh comments from BJP leaders, including Union I&B Minister Smiriti Irani.

“Now that we’re talking tech, would you care to answer@Rahul Gandhi ji why Congress sends data to Singapore Servers which can be accessed by any  Tom, Dick and Analytica?”, she said, scoffing at  Congress for deleting its own app.

Not to be backed down by BJP’s attack, Rahul unleashed yet another sharp tweet on Monday  saying, “Modi’s NaMo App secretly records audio, video, contacts of your friends & family and even tracks your location via GPS. He’s the big boss who likes to spy on Indians. Now he wants data on our children. 13 lakh NCC cadets  are being forced to download the App #Deleted NaMoApp.”

In a direct retaliation to  Rahul’s attack on NaMo App, BJP leader Amit Malviya and in-charge of party’s National Information  and Technology wing charged the Congress with passing on users’ data to a Singapore-based third party domain.

“Hi My name is Rahul Gandhi. I am the president of India’s oldest party. When you sign up for our official application. I give all your data to my friends in Singapore,” said Malviya in a series of tweets.  He attached screen shots of the Congress’ website private policy listings. As for Congress deleting its App, Malviya took a dig on the party  saying “ Rahul Gandhi gave a call to #Deleted NaMoApp, but Congress  deleted its own App from the App store after they were called out. What is the Congress party hiding,” he tweeted.

The war of words between the two major parties which began with the BJP last week accusing the Congress of using the services of an allegedly tainted Cambridge Analytica to influence polls in India, has escalated now  with both the parties accusing each other of leaking or  unauthorised sharing of  personal information with a third party domain.

Rahul   quoted a media report in which a French vigilante hacker in a series of tweets alleged that personal data, including email Ids, photos, gender  and names of users of Modi’s mobile App were being sent to a third party domain without their consent. “ Hi! My name is NarendraModi. I am India’s Prime Minister. When you sign up  for my official app, I give all your data to my friends in American companies”,  Congress leader had said to which Malviya hit back with his own tweets.

Joining the BJP offensive was another party leader Sambit Patra, who said, “Rahul’s allegations are a classic case of technological illiteracy. He does not know that data analysis is not equivalent to spying. This new age is the age of information which Rahul ji will not understand.”

Prior to Patra’s comments, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi  cited  the recent scam by jeweler Nirav Modi and Mehul Choski, Singhvi and slammed the Government saying that not only is the people’s money in banks, but their identities too are unsafe.

Singhvi also accused the Prime Minister of “snooping on minors” by asking them to download the NaMo App in his book “The Exam Warriors”.

“Mr Modi urged children to download NaMo App in his book Exam Warriors, Does he now want to snoop in on minors?” Asked Singhvi.

Taking a jibe at the Government, Singhvi said under the Modi regime Information Technology ministry has become information theft ministry.

He also raised concerns about  safety of customers account information with the bank in light of numerous reports about data leak.