Union Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday warned the Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, of serious consequences if ‘any data theft of Indians’ were found to have taken place.
“Mr. Mark Zuckerberg you better know the observation of IT Minister of India. If any data theft of Indians is done with the collusion of Facebook systems, it will not be tolerated. We have got stringent powers in the IT Act including summoning you in India,” Prasad was quoted by ANi as saying.
Prasad was reacting to the revelation that Cambridge Analytica had indulged in personal data theft to help politicians and political parties around the world to ensure their electoral successes. British newspaper Guardian had published an expose highlighting how the Cambridge Analytica bosses had resorted to unethical means in obtaining the personal data of Facebook users to carry out their psychoanalysis.
Facebook has already banned Cambridge Analytica and the Cambridge University academic, who had colluded with the former’s bosses to leak personal data of Facebook users.
The news was first carried by Janta Ka Reporter in India earlier this week.
Prasad issuing warning to Facebook CEO evoked hilarious comments from social media users, who could not stop their giggles with many even suggesting that the union minister ought to have asked for Zuckerberg’s resignation. This was in reference to Prasad’s usual habits of asking for his opponents’ resignations during the UPA government.
Shri Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad accepting facebook data of Indian users from Zuckerberg in order to keep it safe in 13 inch wall locker! pic.twitter.com/iwrZ6twrCr
— Kapil (@kapsology) March 21, 2018
— Rofl Indian (@Roflindian) March 21, 2018
— José Covaco (@HoeZaay) March 21, 2018
HAHHAHAHA exactly this!
— Karnika Kohli (@KarnikaKohli) March 21, 2018
Ye saab ab jaayenge Iraq, ISIS k leader ka istifa maangne pic.twitter.com/SLMYQ5IjjL
— PDhrit (@Ryaan_1990) March 21, 2018
@rsprasad only you are the braveheart that India needs at the moment to bring ISIS to its knees- they’ve killed 39 Indians recently. Just in case @SushmaSwaraj left you out of the loop. ?????
— Karma Mojo (@ElGuruGyani) March 21, 2018
Istifa nahi kia to #kadiNinda kar denge – maan lo meri baat! pic.twitter.com/F3n3PoDjVj
— Karma Mojo (@ElGuruGyani) March 21, 2018
Handing over the data ? pic.twitter.com/03EvASXvyd
— Mehek (@MehekF) March 21, 2018
Mr @rsprasad very well put
1. Where are the Italian Marines?
2. Where’s Swiss Blk Money
3. Where’s Panama loot
4. Where’s Vijay Mallaya
5. Where’s Nirav Modi+Uncle
Did you say stringent can bring @MarkZukerberg to India for accountability Whom are you fooling Yourself? @geetv79— Anthony Saldanha (@AnthonySald) March 21, 2018
Isko yahi maaru sabke saamne ya Amit Shah k ghar bhijwa doon?? pic.twitter.com/K0frQoXMab
— Piggi (@PagluPiggu) March 21, 2018
Zuckerberg’s reply to @rsprasad be like pic.twitter.com/cAciYB1Uqh
— Attraversiamo !!! (@i_upasana) March 21, 2018
Zuckerberg: pic.twitter.com/PhnCsq8Ctc
— Bat Babu (@Batbabu_) March 21, 2018
“Gold Partner: Facebook”
“Knowledge Partner: PwC” pic.twitter.com/JJHCXdhG2p
— india subsidy data (@databaazi) March 21, 2018