Prevent misuse of data by private entities, SC tells government

SC flags private access to sensitive PF, I-T data, asks Centre to prevent misuse by firmsNEW DELHI: Supreme Court Monday expressed concern about a commercial technological ecosystem which allegedly accesses, retrieves and verifies sensitive individual information on provident fund and income tax returns and told the Centre about the desirability of devising an antidote to the problem with the assistance of domain experts.Hearing a PIL by Piyush Sharma, a bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana noted the matter essentially fell within policy domain but termed private access to sovereign data - individual information given to govt under legislative mandate - and its commercial exploitation as worrisome.Petitioner said his personal inquiry into the issue had revealed