The police probe into the widely reported theft of
Indian call centre data on UK bank accounts has hit a brick wall,
with no charges being brought.
The alleged theft was reported by The Sun newspaper in June and
created a world wide media frenzy, over allegations that the Indian
outsourcing industry’s data security was open to abuse.
It was reported by The Sun that its undercover reporter was sold
bank account details of 1,000 UK customers from unnamed banks by a
middle-man.
However that man denied any knowledge of what was on the CD
containing the information, and the banks said to have been
involved have pressed no charges.
The Indian police are therefore powerless to act and UK police,
who said they would investigate the matter, have no jurisdiction in
the probe.
India's National Association of Software and Service Companies
(Nasscom) had said it wanted to co-operate in any inquiry, but says
its hands are now tied.
Nasscom is concerned that its industry is now being targeted by
concerted entrapment stings, designed to show its member companies
in bad light when it comes to consumer data security.
The Australian ABC news channel has just reported on a similar
operation, which saw its reporters allegedly buy 200 customer
details belonging to a mobile phone company owned by Telstra.
That company had outsourced customer account work to an Indian
outsourcer.