After sending notices to UK-based data mining company Cambridge Analytica, the case has been handed over to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by the government.

Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad, has asked the CBI to look into the issue and how the case can be brought under the ambit of the Indian IT act, sources told BusinessLine .

The government had sent notices to Facebook regarding the data breach, where it was reported that number of Indian users’ data was compromised by Cambridge Analytica. However, there has been no response from the company leading to suspicion that the latter might have been involved in misuse of data.

“The Government has entrusted this issue to be investigated by the CBI for possible violation of Information Technology Act, 2000 and IPC,” Prasad said in a statement on Calling Attention Motion Notice under Rule 180 of Rajya Sabha on ‘Misuse of Social Media Platforms and propagation’ on Thursday here.

Recently top officials from Whatsapp met with MeitY after the government mandated the platform to curb fake news and spreading of provocative messages that lead to violence. Prasad said in the statement that intermediaries will have to ensure that all malicious messages circulated through their services are traced and their source of origin identified by law enforcement agencies. Media platforms should locate grievance officers in India to receive grievance in real-time basis and also inform law enforcement agencies. They will have to ensure that their platforms do not become vehicles of promoting hatred, terrorism money laundering, mob violence rumour-mongering, Prasad pointed out.

“If they do not take adequate and prompt action, then the law of abetment also applies to them,” Prasad stated.

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