Big news for EPFO members. Can private companies gain access to your income tax returns or provident fund records? The Supreme Court has directed the government to look into claims that private verification firms are tapping into individuals’ employment and financial data for commercial purposes.
ITR and EPFO data are deemed sensitive.
This directive from the government comes in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) that alleges a commercial framework has emerged, allowing private companies to access EPFO/UAN records and financial information associated with PANs. Such information is regarded as highly sensitive.
The petitioner has raised concerns about private companies’ access to this data.
While the Supreme Court has not identified any company that has unlawfully accessed this information, it has not confirmed that private firms have the right to utilize individuals’ ITR and EPFO records. Nevertheless, this petition has highlighted a significant issue affecting millions of Indians.
Three main questions have emerged regarding data access.
Several inquiries surround this matter. First, which types of personal information held by government entities can private companies utilize? Second, what should be the appropriate method of usage? Third, do they obtain individual consent to use this information?
The Supreme Court has voiced concerns about the misuse of personal information.
The Supreme Court has shown apprehension regarding the potential misuse of sensitive personal data. It has requested the government to investigate the situation. A bench consisting of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana suggested that the government explore solutions to mitigate this issue and consult with experts in the field.
The petitioner has raised concerns about advertisements from certain private services.
In his complaint, the petitioner references private services that reportedly promote products like the “EPFO Passbook API,” “Form 26 API,” and “Income Tax Return API.” He argues that this raises questions about how such sensitive information is being obtained or verified.
from Times Bull https://ift.tt/I94BQnk
0 Comments