Hit back by BJP on data breach, Congress pulls down app, site
Cong has been targeting BJP over Narendra Modi app amid reports that it sent user data to a US-based firm without consent.
New Delhi: Hours after being accused by the ruling BJP of sharing user data, Congress on Monday took down both its App and the party membership website.
The Congress app is no longer available on Google Playstore. Those clicking on to its membership site are greeted by with the message reading: "We are incorporating minor changes to the website. Please visit us again in a while to access the INC Membership process."
In-charge of BJP's national Information and Technology, Amit Malviya was among the first to react to the Congress pulling down its App.
Rahul Gandhi gave a call to #DeleteNaMoApp, but Congress deleted its own App from the App store after they were called out. What is the Congress party hiding? pic.twitter.com/nAJTDAMmoc
— Amit Malviya (@malviyamit) March 26, 2018
Malviya further added, "All of you who complained about the surge in anti-BJP and anti-government messages and fake news in recent days on social media, now know who was behind it - an insidious Cambridge Analytica hired by a desperate Congress!"
In earlier tweets on Monday, the BJP IT head had raised "privacy and consent conflicts" in the Congress party's own App.
Hi! My name is Rahul Gandhi. I am the President of India’s oldest political party. When you sign up for our official App, I give all your data to my friends in Singapore. pic.twitter.com/ceCTkod17D
— Amit Malviya (@malviyamit) March 26, 2018
The Congress has been targeting the BJP over the Narendra Modi app of the Prime Minister amid reports that it sent user data to a US-based company without consent. The allegation surfaced alongside a massive scandal over the alleged misuse of personal data of Facebook users by the disgraced research group Cambridge Analytica to help political parties.
Also read: Cong says NaMo app shares data to US; BJP claims Rahul sends details to Singapore
On Monday morning too, Congress President Rahul Gandhi continued his attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP with another Tweet, posted with the hashtag #DeleteNaMoApp.
Modi’s NaMo App secretly records audio, video, contacts of your friends & family and even tracks your location via GPS.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 26, 2018
He’s the Big Boss who likes to spy on Indians.
Now he wants data on our children. 13 lakh NCC cadets are being forced to download the APP.#DeleteNaMoApp
The Congress President further accused Narendra Modi of misusing the Prime Ministerial post to build personal database with intel on millions of Indians via the NaMo App promoted by the government.
Modi misusing PM position to build personal database with data on millions of Indians via the NaMo App promoted by Govt.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 26, 2018
If as PM he wants to use tech to communicate with India, no problem. But use the official PMO APP for it.
This data belongs to India, not Modi.