NEET 2018 Data Leaked Online: Rahul Gandhi Writes to CBSE; Demands Inquiry on the Data Breach of Personal Records
In the letter, he further urged, CBSE to put adequate safeguards in place to prevent such incidents in the future.
After the personal details of various aspirants who took the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET) in 2018 leaked online, Congress President Rahul Gandhi writes to the conducting board. Addressing it to the chairperson Anita Karwal of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Gandhi demanded an inquiry into the data breach of personal records of over 2 lakh students. In the letter, he further urged, CBSE to put adequate safeguards in place to prevent such incidents in the future. Response from CBSE’s officials on the same is awaited.
This year, over 13 lakh aspirants sat for the entrance exam conducted at various centres across. It was last week when reports highlighted a massive fallout in which thousands of applicants’ data that included the phone numbers, email IDs and addresses were available online to those who were willing to pay up to Rs. 2 lakhs. A detailed state-wise data was published at neetdata.com for the “interested buyers”.
Rahul Gandhi writes to CBSE and demands inquiry for the data breach of personal records.
Soon, the website in question has been taken down. The sites that offer the personal data for a price reveals the broader trend of how data brokers operate in India’s digital agency. They are primarily responsible for keeping the record of an extensive database that lists a person’s name, address, cast, creed, marital status, height, weight, etc.
However, the recent case is a pressing issue of how data leaks by the official sources help in the invasion of privacy. Over the years, India has witnessed a wave of data privacy breaches and other internet security threats. Meanwhile, CBSE is expected to begin with their counselling process for the selected candidates soon.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 24, 2018 10:16 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).