New Delhi, Mar 21: The alleged data breach of over 50 million Facebook users sparked a political row in India today after three major parties - the Centre-ruling BJP, the prime Opposition Congress and the Janata Dal (United) - were accused of hiring the services of Cambridge Analytica, the UK-based data consultancy firm which is at the centre of the scandal.

Charges were levelled against the three parties after a new investigation conducted by Britain's Channel 4 found Cambridge Analytica swindling the electoral sentiment in India, apart from the US, Nigeria, Kenya, Argentina and the Czech Republic.

How Indian political parties were dragged into the row?

The Channel 4 report claimed Cambridge Analytica's parent firm Strategic Communications Laboratories (SCL) had partnered with India's Ovleno Business Intelligence (OBI), headed by Amrish Tyagi, son of JD(U) MP K C Tyagi.

The OBI website listed the Congress, BJP and JD(U) as its political clients. While speaking to reporters, Amrish Tyagi accepted extending his firm's services to the three political parties, but denied breaching data from social media to swerve voters' sentiments.

"Our company had partnered with Cambridge (Analytica) to provide details emerging from the ground. We were not involved in any social media or digital campaigns," he said.

Tyagi further claimed that OBI worked for the JD(U) during Bihar assembly elections of 2015. It's services were rendered to the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. "We also worked for the Youth Congress in Jharkhand," he added.

Congress, BJP in denial

While the JD(U) was yet to respond, the BJP and Congress have denied hiring the services of Cambridge Analytica. Both the parties, however, have charged each other of benefiting from the "breached online data".

Senior BJP leader and Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad accused the Congress of preparing for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls using the stolen data.

"My question to Congress party is whether to win elections, Congress will depend on data manipulation and theft of data," he asked.

"What is the role of Cambridge Analytica in social media profile of Rahul Gandhi," Prasad further added.

In retaliation, Congress levelled counter-allegations against the BJP. It accused the party of availing the services of the tainted data analytics firm in the 2014 general elections, followed by a spree of assembly elections held thereafter.

"Congress or the Congress president has never used or ever hired the services of the said firm. This is a fake agenda, a white lie by the Law Minister," Surjewala said.

"Instead, the BJP used the services of the firm in Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections of 2014 and the Delhi assembly elections of 2015," he added.

How the data breach scandal came to light?

Christopher Wylie, a former Cambridge Analytica employee, turned whistleblower in the past week, revealing the details of how the company stole data of over 50 million Facebook users.

Wylie claimed the company used an application designed by Cambridge University's psychology professor Dr Aleksandr Kogan, who was paid $800,00 for his services.

The app not only harvested the data of those users who downloaded it, but also those in their friend list.

According to Wylie, at least 2,70,000 FB users downloaded the app, but data was extracted from those on their friend list as well.

What could be the magnitude of the data theft in India?

Facebook has over 20 crore users in India. The data theft could possibly the largest breach of personal information in the digital space.

The Union Law Minister has warned Facebook CEO of stern action if the privacy of Indian users was compromised. "The IT Ministry of India is taking note. If required, Mr Zuckerberg can also be summoned here," Prasad said.

"The issue concerns national interest and national security. And the government will take it very seriously if by collusive methods the data assets of Indians are pilfered," he added.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 21, 2018 08:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).