Incase you missed this latest Indian political drama, let me give you a gist. Here’s what happened.
French hacker Elliot Alderson revealed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official app leaks user data to third party website without prior consent of users.
When you create a profile in the official @narendramodi #Android app, all your device info (OS, network type, Carrier …) and personal data (email, photo, gender, name, …) are send without your consent to a third-party domain called https://t.co/N3zA3QeNZO. pic.twitter.com/Vey3OP6hcf
— Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) March 23, 2018
And this news spread like a wild-fire in Indian media and politics.
Furor erupts around PM Modi's app over alleged data sharing https://t.co/AdoYo1Z2lC
— Reuters India (@ReutersIndia) March 26, 2018
Rahul Gandhi, leader of Indian National Congress, urged people to delete NaMo app through series of Tweets.
1.
Modi’s NaMo App secretly records audio, video, contacts of your friends & family and even tracks your location via GPS.
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
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 26, 2018
2.
Modi misusing PM position to build personal database with data on millions of Indians via the NaMo App promoted by Govt.
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.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 26, 2018
And as soon as Rahul Gandhi tweeted, #DeleteNaMoApp started Trending on Twitter.
1.
I’m glad the #DeleteNaMoApp campaign we ran not only exposed the lies, manipulation and data theft by the BJP, but, we also got the BJP to change their privacy policy. Good job everybody on creating awareness and safeguarding the interests of fellow Indians-
— Divya Spandana/Ramya (@divyaspandana) March 25, 2018
2.
They're accessing personal information from your phone. If you have installed the app – #DeleteNaMoApp now!!!
— Hasiba (@HasibaAmin) March 23, 2018
3.
As if a single #BJP leader or North Korean TV jokers knew the N of NCC Training. Cut the crap. Don’t divert: Let’s talk of #DeleteNamoApp ; that’s the real story. Narendra Modi will have to answer. This one is bigger than #BJPCambridgeAnalyticaNexus . It involves PM directly.
— Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) March 26, 2018
The hacker than announced that he will also check INC’s apps.
Of course, I will check the With INC #android app too. I encourage talented Indian security researchers to do the same
— Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) March 25, 2018
He found same thing in INC’s app as well.
When you apply for membership in the official @INCIndia #android #app, your personal data are send encoded through a HTTP request to https://t.co/t1pidQUmtq. pic.twitter.com/6RH0ORYrQd
— Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) March 26, 2018
But apparently, Congress deleted their app from App Story/ Play Store before this guy hacks into it.
Did @INCIndia removed their #android #app from the PlayStore just before my tweet?
— Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) March 26, 2018
Smriti Irani Tweeted this soon after the incident.
Ye kya @RahulGandhi ji it seems your team is doing the opposite of what you asked for. Instead of #DeleteNaMoApp, they have deleted the Congress App itself ? pic.twitter.com/NrbMxz57gs
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) March 26, 2018