- A rogue Telegram bot sold sensitive personal information for as little as ₹99.
- Data included Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID, and current addresses.
- Telegram acted swiftly to remove the bot after media exposure.
A privacy breach has rocked India after a Telegram bot was found peddling sensitive personal information of citizens by merely entering a 10-digit mobile number.
Telegram responded promptly, confirming that the offending bot had been taken down and that doxing—distribution of private data—is strictly against its platform policies.
Leaked for ₹99: Telegram Bot Breach Exposes India’s Data Privacy Crisis
The source of the data remains unclear, though experts believe it could be linked to past breaches of telecom firms, financial services, or government databases. With data appearing current in many cases, this incident may not stem solely from old leaks but possibly from ongoing vulnerabilities. The lack of transparency on how this data was acquired makes it difficult to trace accountability.
This event reignites public discourse around India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, which aims to strengthen control over personal data. However, implementation gaps remain, especially around private entities’ role in safeguarding user information. Data security, critics argue, is still more reactive than preventive in India’s digital infrastructure.
Telegram bots are often used to automate customer support, financial alerts, or information retrieval, but in the wrong hands, they become powerful tools for digital exploitation. This case illustrates how easy it is for malicious actors to weaponize technology in the absence of strong oversight or ethical coding practices.
Experts advise users to regularly monitor for unauthorized activities on their accounts and avoid sharing sensitive data on unsecured platforms. Simple steps like enabling two-factor authentication, updating passwords, and staying informed about data breaches can help reduce personal risk.
This breach serves as a wake-up call—highlighting the need for immediate, systemic reforms in digital privacy enforcement to protect citizens from silent surveillance and exploitation.
“Privacy is not an option, and it shouldn’t be the price we accept for just getting on the Internet.” — Gary Kovacs
