Thread by @vijaita

NATGRID wants to link social media accounts to central database
Intel agencies oppose the move, say linking social media accounts to sensitive government data could expose the system to “trojan attacks.” I report
thehindu.com/news/national/…

The project, initially started in 2009 with a budget of ₹2,800 crore, is an online database for collating scattered pieces of information and putting them on one platform. At least 10 central agencies like IB, R&AW and others will have access to the data on a secured platform.

Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the progress of NATGRID at North Block on Thursday. The project gathered pace in 2016, when the NDA government appointed an IB officer Ashok Patnaik as the CEO. After Mr. Patnaik retired, NATGRID is now headed by IAS officer Ashish Gupta.

The 10 user agencies will be linked independently with certain databases that would be procured from 21 providing organisations and include telecom, tax records, bank, immigration, etc. to enable the generation of intelligence inputs.

In January, NATGRID revived its EOI to select a System Integrator (SI) to provide a software solution, recommend hardware specification and integrating and implementing the composite EVA solution.. the company bidding for the project should have a turnover of at least ₹1,600 cr