The governments across the world are grappling with the fallout of the massive Facebook data breach in the Cambridge Analytica scam.
The governments across the world are grappling with the fallout of the massive Facebook data breach in the Cambridge Analytica scam.
In India, while the government today sent notice to Cambridge Analytica seeking answers on the data breach, the political slugfest continues with parties accusing each other of colluding with the tainted firm.
Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat spoke exclusively to WION’s Kartikeya Sharma and talked about the impact of the massive data breach and how it will affect the Lok Sabha Elections scheduled for next year.
Rawat said that Election Commission of India had limited engagement with the Facebook hence no vulnerability exists.
“They had no access to data,” he said. Though, he added that relationship with Facebook has not been suspended as the whole issue has not been diagnosed and confirmed.
He also said that the Election Commission is aware of the Cambridge Analytica-Facebook issue and is getting the matter inquired from Enforcement Agencies if any misuse of data has taken place ever.
He also added that to best of his knowledge no such incident imitating what is being reported abroad has come into light in context of the Indian electoral process either in way of complaint or fact. Though, he added that the above developments need be taken very seriously so that it does not happen in India.
“Social media is a reality and EC understands it. For this very reason we have a social media policy and also a social media hub in the Election Commission. It is a powerful tool to connect with the voters and we will continue to engage people through it with adequate stipulation that data is not breached and misused. And if any incident comes to light then adequate steps will be taken,” said OP Rawat.
Rawat also added that the Election Commission has also set up a committee to look into legal provision of emerging technological environment so that any attempt to affect Indian elections are nipped in the bud. “We will continue to harvest the potential of new technologies without becoming its victims,” he said. He also said that fake news is the emerging challenge in the electoral arena and Election Commission is determined to ensure that it does not end up manipulating Indian election process.
He further added that the Election Commission is concerned about new cybersecurity threat and to understand the emerging challenges it held a daylong meeting in March to understand the issue. “Election Commission has already unveiled cybersecurity regulations and we would be interacting with concerned agencies so that mechanisms are in place. Officers were made aware of the new challenges,” said OP Rawat. When asked as to what is the biggest challenge before the Lok Sabha elections he said,” Protecting our IT systems is the biggest challenge.”
When asked about the High Court’s decision quashing the Presidential order on AAP MLAs, he said,” We only advised. We rendered an opinion and I would refrain from making any opinion on the court. We will study the order first and take actions accordingly,” he said.
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