Govt app sharing personal data with third party: Ex-CM

MUMBAI: Former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday alleged that data collected via the Mahamitra application was being transferred to a private trust called Anulom.

The state government’s publicity department DGIPR had initiated the app to encourage those working for social causes.

Mr Chavan’s statement comes amid data-breach allegations leveled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress against each other at the Centre.   

Mr Chavan charged that the trust was started by Atul Vaze with the blessings of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.

“The social media app started by DGIPR  was (developed) to prepare 300 Mahamitras. A few days ago, Mr Fadnavis felicitated them. They are being used to win over people’s minds and their votes. All the collected data goes to a private trust called Anulom, which was founded by Atul Vaze with the blessings of the chief minister,” he said.

Mr Chavan asked, “Has the government signed any memorandum of understanding with the trust? This was sociological micro-targeting and weaponisation of data. The data is being collected without the consent of users, and this amounted to violation of privacy,” he said, demanding an inquiry.

To this, Speaker Haribhau Bagde asked the government to check if government funds were being used to collect data.

Later, speaking to reporters, Mr Chavan said the server of Anulom was based in Germany. “The data of anyone who clicks on the Mahamitra app goes to the Anulom trust. Details like photos, phone records and messages go to the trust. This is just like how the NaMo app is used for political reasons,” Mr Chavan alleged.

He was referring to allegations that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official mobile app was sending personal user data to a third party without their consent. The BJP alleged that Congress app was also seeking personal data, after which it was removed.