In a major expose mobile wallet company Paytm has allegedly provided personal data of Kashmiri users to a political party on the request from PMO during stone throwing incidents in Kashmir. The company’s bosses have also claimed that they are affiliated with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
The expose has been carried out through sting operation by investigative news website, Cobrapost.
In the video purportedly shot by Cobrapost senior Vice President of the company Ajay Shekhar is saying that the PMO wanted personal data of Paytm’s users to find out if some of the users were those who threw stones during protests in Kashmir last year.
“When the stone-pelting stopped there in J&K, I personally got a phone call from the PMO. They told us to give them data saying maybe some of the stone-pelters are Paytm users,” Shekhar has told the under cover journalist of Cobrapost.
The revelation is in direct violation of the Paytm privacy policy that states: “We will not sell, share or rent your personal information to any 3rd party or use your email address/mobile number for unsolicited emails and/or SMS. Any emails and/or SMS sent by Paytm will only be in connection with the provision of agreed services & products and this Privacy Policy. Periodically, we may reveal general statistical information about Paytm & its users, such as number of visitors, number and type of goods and services purchased, etc.We reserve the right to communicate your personal information to any third party that makes a legally-compliant request for its disclosure”.
Shekhar reportedly has also told the under cover journalist that when he met him and other senior officials on the pretext of being sent by the Sangathan (RSS) “to fulfill the assignment received directly from the Sangathan under a “gupt vyavastha” or secret arrangement”. “RSS is in my blood, I have attended RSS shakhas too,” Shekhar has reportedly revealed to the under cover journalist.
It was reported by Tech Crunch last year that Paytm had 230 million users in India. A registered user has to complete their KYC with providing two government ids (Aadhaar, Passport, PAN card, Ration Card) for them to be able to use the app and make transfers to other people.
While Paytm promises to keep such data secure, Shekhar’s alleged comments have revealed that users are at the risk of being targeted and their data like Aadhaar and bank account numbers being shared.
