NEW DELHI: In a decision with political implications, the government has ordered a CBI investigation into the suspected involvement of Cambridge Analytica in illegally obtaining data of Indians - a charge that can resurrect BJP's allegations that the controversial firm worked for Congress.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha , IT and law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Cambridge Analytica did not respond to government notices beyond saying the data of Indians had not been breached, but this was found to be not in conformity with what Facebook had reported.

On lynchings, he said social media platforms must ensure they did not become vehicles for "promoting hatred, terrorism, money-laundering, mob violence and rumour-mongering" and should trace malicious messages. They have been asked to provide "tech solutions" to filter fake news and appoint grievance officers to cooperate with the law.

Social media saying it is just a platform will not be acceptable. Just as a newspaper cannot say it's not their responsibility if provocative news is published, same way, if people die or are instigated to kill due to fake news on social media, then it's their responsibility," he said.

Both Facebook and CA were sent notices after it was revealed that FB user data had been compromised by the data firm. While FB said it would clean up internal processes and the CA case was a breach of trust, the latter did not respond to subsequent notices after it was asked for clarifications.

"It is suspected that CA might have been involved in illegally obtaining data of Indians which could be misused. The government has entrusted this issue to be investigated by CBI for possible violation of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and IPC," Prasad said.

The CA controversy had seen BJP allege that Congress had used the firm for election planning, a charge the opposition party denied. "Congress has had no truck with Cambridge Analytica ever and we have never hired its services," party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala had said. Prasad had latched onto alleged CA whistleblower Christopher Wylie's statement that Congress had been a client of the data firm.

Thursday's announcement made it clear that the government intends to keep up the pressure on CA, even though just how far the probe will proceed is open to question given the data firm being a foreign entity. Yet, questioning of its employees and Indian partners is a course of action for the CBI to pursue.

Prasad also said social media providers should ensure compliance with Indian laws for continued business in the country and submit themselves to the jurisdiction of courts here. They must implement remedial measures and curtail use of services and platforms in a way that harms Indian society. "This requires them to trace malicious messages and locate a grievance officer in India," he said.

Responding to members' concerns during a calling attention motion notice on the misuse of social media, Prasad said, "They (social networking platforms) have to follow Article 19(2) of the Constitution and ensure that their platforms are not used to commit and provoke terrorism, extremism, violence and crime."

Earlier, members, including leader of the opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad , had raised concern over incidents relating to the abuse of social media leading to mob lynchings , with some of them even accusing the government of inaction.

