Worried by data leak, PM wants servers in India

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi is understood to have expressed serious concern over data leaks and alleged manipulation of user information by global internet and social media giants. According to top sources, the PM has instructed that data sharing should be regulated and servers be located within the country.

The issue came up for discussion during a recent meeting of the Union Cabinet, where the episode of data leakage and manipulation by Facebook and UK-based Cambridge Analytica was raised, said sources. “The PM said that servers should be located within India. The issue was thereafter discussed within the IT ministry which carried out a review last week,” a top source told TOI.

The majority of user data generated on platforms of companies such as Google, Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram is stored across servers located internationally. Moreover, access to these servers — and the information they hold — is highly regulated by US laws and certain international treaties.


The sources said the issue is being pursued on “top priority” by the government. “The PM has said that instruments should be established to ensure that user information is increasingly stored locally, and that its sharing is regulated...”

A key concern of the IT ministry is that user data does not get misused for any kind of manipulation, including for ‘managing’ electoral processes in India. “An inquiry is already on regarding the Facebook and Cambridge Analytica episode where data may have been manipulated during polls. The government also wants to look into the other aspects related to data protection,” said sources.