The National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC) has detected that some government staff sold citizens’ NID card and phone call details through hundreds of Facebook, Telegram, and WhatsApp groups. Personal confidential data were being sold through 21 WhatsApp, 48 Telegram, and 720 Facebook groups and pages that have 32 lakh members and followers, according to media reports.
The two officials’ login ID and password were used to gain access to the sensitive data that were given to members of messaging groups in exchange for money. We express deep concern over the theft and sale of citizens’ confidential information online.
We also demand severe punishment for those responsible. This breach violates constitutional commitments to safeguard personal data. We urge swift enactment of the Personal Data Protection Act, 2024.
The government employees are entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining public safety and security. However, some of them are committing serious crimes against the people of the country by forming cybercrime gangs in exchange for huge amount of money.
The process and technical infrastructure used by the authorities concerned to protect citizens’ sensitive information raises questions regarding integrity and capability. The authorities have a responsibility to protect the citizens, and in the modern world, that means taking steps to ensure digital resources.
Earlier, more than five crore Bangladeshi citizens’ personal information, including their full names, phone numbers, email addresses and NID numbers, has been exposed from a Bangladesh government website. The NTMC in Bangladesh has exposed a database to the open web. The types of data that leaked online were extensive.
The list of data is long: names, professions, blood groups, parents’ names, phone numbers, the length of calls, vehicle registrations, passport details and fingerprint photos. In a report on July 7 last year, TechCrunch, an online media based on information technology in the United States, said that the information of millions of people was leaked through the website of a government agency in Bangladesh.
This breach violates
constitutional commitments
to safeguard personal data
They conducted the search using a portion of leaked data several times, and in all instances, the website confirmed the data of Bangladeshi citizens. According to the ministry for ICT Division, due to technical weaknesses of the website of a government organisation, the leaking of sensitive personal information of Bangladeshi citizens on the internet happened.
As the site was in a vulnerable stage, the information was exposed to people. Hackers were involved in leaking sensitive data time.
But if government employees leak our confidential data where do we go for safety? There is no scope to avoid responsibility for this occurrence.
We think stern action must be taken against those who have leaked the personal data of the citizens. The law enforcement agencies must investigate the matter to get 'very specific’ information.
There is no alternative to increase awareness and technical knowledge in citizens’ protection. In this regard, to keep the cyber world safe, all need to give importance to four important levels such as individual, family, institutional and society.
Besides, all need to raise awareness to protect themselves from these cyber attacks. The government should warn its all organisations to take extra security measures. With this phenomenon in view, the regulatory body must heighten measures to strengthen the enfeeble cyber security scenario in our country.
Besides, government organisations need to build their employees’ honesty, accountability, transparency and capacity and enhance logistics support for the security shield. The higher authorities must monitor the officials and employees of different government organisations assigned to preserve the people’s data.
It will also have to frame a specific policy guideline to ensure cyber security of the sector. A protocol for ensuring external security as well as cyber security is very essential.
The use of information technology has been increasing day by day in the country’s all sectors. Different devices of the automated system have to be aligned with online communication. As the risk of cyber threats is increasing, the authorities will have to create the necessary awareness and achieve efficiency to face unexpected challenges.
