Delhi, September 26, 2024
The Government of India has blocked several websites that were exposing sensitive personal information, including Aadhaar and PAN card details, to the public. This action was taken by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to protect citizens’ data and ensure the internet remains safe and secure for everyone.
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has filed a complaint with the police about these websites for violating laws that protect Aadhaar information from being shared publicly.
India’s cybersecurity agency, CERT-In, investigated these websites and found security issues. The website owners have been told how to fix these problems and improve their online security.
The government has also issued guidelines to all organizations using IT applications on how to secure personal data. Additionally, under the Information Technology Act, 2000, individuals whose personal data is exposed can file a complaint and seek compensation through state IT secretaries.
To further strengthen data privacy, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, has been passed, and the government is working on finalizing rules to support it. An awareness program has also started to educate citizens and businesses on how to protect personal data and prevent such incidents in the future.
This is a major step towards ensuring that citizens' data remains private and protected.