In the letters sent to the companies, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has sought the details of data collection exercise adapted by them, sources said.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday started a probe into the alleged data theft of Indian Facebook users and shot letters to US-based Facebook, UK-based Cambridge Analytica (CA) and Global Science Research (GSR), seeking cooperation and details in the case. The agency's actions came two days after Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat expressed anguish, saying Cambridge Analytica-like machinations of data theft pose a potent threat to the electoral process in India. He had also claimed that there is a lack of laws to deal with such threats with a firm hand.
In the letters sent to the companies, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has sought the details of data collection exercise adapted by them, sources said.
The agency had first initiated probe on August 8, last year, after receiving a reference from the Centre to investigate the issue. At the time, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology had asked the CBI to investigate the role of Cambridge Analytica role in data theft. The CBI is now probing violation of Information Technology Act, 2000 and Indian Penal Code.
In July, Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Ravi Shankar Prasad had told Rajya Sabha that there were also reports that user data was "illegally accessed by hardware manufacturers who had tie-ups with Facebook." However, Facebook has reported that they are not aware of any misuse of information, including Indian users' information".
It is alleged that in 2010, Cambridge Analytica's parent company Strategic Communications Laboratories Group undertook an in-depth electorate analysis, which included identifying swing voters for each of the parties and measuring their level of electoral apathy, among other things, for the Bihar Assembly election. Cambridge Analytica, meanwhile, was founded in 2013. Then the alliance led by Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar had won with a landslide four-fifth majority in the 2010 Bihar elections, making it one of the biggest victories in the state's history.
Strategic Communications Laboratories operates in India through a local partner, Ovlene Business Intelligence, owned by Amrish Tyagi, the son of senior JD(U) leader KC Tyagi. They use predictive analytics and behavioural sciences to draw trends based on user data, which can go a long way in influencing voters.
It was further alleged that Global Science Research (GSR) harvested Facebook data using a personality application under the guise of academic research and later shared the data with Cambridge Analytica.
Poll Swayed?
It is alleged that in 2010, CA’s parent company undertook an in-depth electorate analysis, which included identifying swing voters for each of the parties, for the Bihar Assembly elections
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