Massive Data Leak?: Allegedly From COWIN!

A significant data breach has occurred, compromising the personal information of Lakhs of individuals who received the Covid vaccine in India. Reports indicate that critical details such as phone numbers, gender, ID card information, and dates of birth were leaked on a Telegram channel. Shockingly, this information could be accessed through a Telegram bot simply by entering a person’s name.

According to The latest media reports, documents linked to the mobile numbers registered on the CoWin portal were made available on the channel. The leaked information also revealed which vaccine was administered and the location where it was given.

Supriya Sule, a Member of Parliament, expressed her concerns on Twitter, demanding immediate clarification from the government and urging them to hold those responsible accountable for the breach.

The Union health ministry had previously denied any data leaks, but the recent incident raises questions about the government’s assurance. In June 2021, reports had emerged regarding the leakage of vaccination data for 150 million Indians.

Karti Chidambaram shared a screenshot of his alleged data leak on the Telegram bot and criticized the Indian government for neglecting citizen privacy in their pursuit of a digital India. He called for answers from Ashwini Vaishnaw, the concerned authority, regarding the absence of a data protection law.

Last year, the CEO of the National Health Authority, RS Sharma, had claimed that CoWin, the vaccination registration platform, had state-of-the-art security measures and had not experienced any breaches. However, this recent incident casts doubt on the earlier assurances and highlights the need for stronger data protection measures.

The data breach has exposed sensitive personal information of Covid vaccine recipients in India, raising serious concerns about privacy and data security. The government faces pressure to address the breach promptly, hold those responsible accountable, and prioritize the implementation of robust data protection laws. Safeguarding citizen data is crucial to maintain public trust and ensure the integrity of India’s digital infrastructure.