📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Heinz OSM
Crime
Data of 3,400 Gujarat women and 40 million Indians exposed by ‘female search engine’
✍️ Bhaskar English
🗓 06 Sep 2026, 10:17 AM
👁 26
A platform marketed as a ‘female search engine’ has been found selling personal details of 3,400 women from Gujarat and about 40 million people nationwide.
A digital service billed as a ‘female search engine’ has come under scrutiny after investigators discovered that it was trading personal information of thousands of Indian citizens. Records indicate that the database contained details of 3,400 women from Gujarat and roughly 40 million individuals across the country.
The platform, which positioned itself as a niche search tool for women, allegedly compiled names, contact numbers, addresses and other sensitive identifiers before offering them for sale on undisclosed channels. The leak was first reported by cybersecurity analysts who traced the data to a series of online listings.
Law enforcement agencies have opened a probe into the breach, citing violations of the Information Technology Act and the Personal Data Protection framework. Officials have warned that the misuse of such data could lead to identity theft, harassment and other criminal activities, and have urged affected users to monitor their accounts for suspicious activity.
Consumer rights groups have called for stricter oversight of data‑handling practices by tech firms, emphasizing the need for transparent consent mechanisms. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not disclosed any arrests at this stage.
The platform, which positioned itself as a niche search tool for women, allegedly compiled names, contact numbers, addresses and other sensitive identifiers before offering them for sale on undisclosed channels. The leak was first reported by cybersecurity analysts who traced the data to a series of online listings.
Law enforcement agencies have opened a probe into the breach, citing violations of the Information Technology Act and the Personal Data Protection framework. Officials have warned that the misuse of such data could lead to identity theft, harassment and other criminal activities, and have urged affected users to monitor their accounts for suspicious activity.
Consumer rights groups have called for stricter oversight of data‑handling practices by tech firms, emphasizing the need for transparent consent mechanisms. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not disclosed any arrests at this stage.