New Delhi: Once again, serious questions have arisen regarding the security of students’ data in the country. Earlier, the issue of data leakage related to CBSE’s online system was under discussion, and then the news of the leakage of information of JEE Advanced candidates came to the fore. Now it is being claimed that personal data of lakhs of students associated with CBSE, NEET, and JEE is being sold openly on the internet. According to the information going viral on social media, information related to students’ names, mobile numbers, schools, and parents is being made available in different packages.
Is student data really being sold online?
Academician Maheshwar Peri has raised the issue by sharing a post on the social media platform X. He claimed that many websites were selling state-wise and class-wise students’ data. The post states that anyone can access the personal information of thousands of students by paying. After this claim came to light, concern has increased among the education world and parents.
On which websites have allegations been made?
The information shared on social media mentions some websites that have been accused of allegedly selling the data of students. It is claimed that information on students from different states is available in the form of packages on these portals. Buyers can download the data by choosing the state, class, and exam category as per their needs. However, these claims have not yet been officially confirmed by any government agency.
How much money is students’ information worth?
According to the claims, the price of data for students of different states has been fixed differently. Some databases are said to be available for Rs 999, while to get information on a large scale, one may have to pay Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000. It is alleged that the information of lakhs of students of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and other states is being sold in this way.
What information is being claimed?
It is being told that the available database may include information like students’ names, mobile numbers, school names, parents’ names, districts, and academic performance. If this claim is proved to be true, then it will be considered a very serious matter in terms of students’ privacy and cybersecurity. Experts say that such information can be misused for fake calls, cyber fraud, and unwanted publicity.
What was shown in the viral video on social media?
Maheshwar Peri has also shared a video, which reportedly shows the process of downloading state-wise student data. Based on the video, it has been claimed that personal information of a large number of students can be obtained within a few minutes. However, the video could not be independently verified.
What have CBSE and the Education Ministry said?
At present, no official response has come from the CBSE and the Education Ministry on this matter. Nor has it been made clear whether the alleged data is actually linked to the records of the examination boards or collected from some other source. In such a situation, the truth of the entire matter is yet to be confirmed. However, after the questions raised on social media, the demand for investigation and accountability has intensified.
