BJP today questioned the alleged links between the Congress and Cambridge Analytica, a data mining firm accused of harvesting personal information from Facebook illegally to influence polls in several countries.
Briefing reporters in New Delhi, Union Information Technology and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad cited media reports about the Congress’ plan to use the firm’s services for the next Lok Sabha elections and to boost its president Rahul Gandhi’s profile.
He said, the firm has been accused of using sleaze and fake news to influence elections and asked if the Congress too plans to walk the same path.
Mr. Prasad also warned Facebook of stringent legal action against any misuse of data of Indians on its platform.
Congress has denied its links with Cambridge Analytica.
Talking to reporters in New Delhi today, party leader Randeep Singh Surjewala accused the BJP of producing and setting fake agendas.
Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said the government will conduct a probe into allegations of data theft to bring out the truth.
Talking to reporters in New Delhi, he said the government will not take the matter lightly.
Mr Patra also rejected the allegation that BJP had taken service of this company during 2014 Lok Sabha polls. He also accused Congress of compromising people’s personal data for political gains.
