🗳️ Bengaluru NGO steals voter data

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A private NGO used undercover agents to pose as government representatives to get personal information from thousands of Bengaluru voters.

Story so far: The BBMP had authorised the non-profit organisation Chilume Educational Cultural and Rural Development Institute to carry out SVEEP (Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation), a special voter education campaign by the Election Commission to update the electoral rolls prior to the Karnataka Assembly elections. It was discovered, however, that they abused the directive and gave false identification cards to hundreds of their field operatives, posing as Booth Level Officers (BLO) of the BBMP.

  • The data is yet to be retrieved from Chilume despite the BBMP and EC officials issuing a cancellation order.
  • Through one of its directors, the NGO has a connection to an election management company.

Gold mine for politicians: These field workers required voters to provide personal information, including their Aadhaar number, phone number, residence, voter ID number, email address, caste, mother tongue, marital status, age, gender, and employment and education details.

  • Private firms would compete to pay top cash for the data that was stolen from citizens as part of the operation. This information is priceless for a politician trying to earn a vote in every way possible.
  • Additionally, voters were required to provide their opinions on how well their elected officials performed.

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