Rupal Madhup, a brand marketing professional from Bengaluru, on Monday shared a chilling story about her friend’s harrowing experience with digital stalking, triggering widespread concern about data privacy. According to Rupal's post, her friend had met a man working at Swiggy on the dating app Bumble. After their relationship ended, the man allegedly misused his access to Swiggy’s systems to monitor her whereabouts through her food delivery orders.
He would send alarming messages based on her location, including questioning her movements at odd hours or even asking personal questions like, “Why are you not ordering at your own place at 2 AM? Where are you?”, “What are you doing in Chennai?”, and “Ordering chocolates, are you on your period?”
The unsettling part? The woman realised the man was using Swiggy’s data to track her every move, sparking outrage about the potential misuse of sensitive customer information.
It should be noted here that there's no way to prove the veracity of the post, or Swiggy's involvement in the case. The company has yet to make a statement on the development.
How Are Netizens Reacting?
The post quickly went viral, amassing over 895 likes and 150 comments within hours. Many urged the woman to take legal action against Swiggy and her ex. One commenter, Gaurav Behl, highlighted that companies like Swiggy typically enforce strict privacy policies, making it unlikely for employees to access user data without violating internal protocols.
"Swiggy, like most tech companies employs strict privacy policies and security measures to safeguard user data. It is highly unlikely that an individual employee regardless of their access level can use customer data for personal motives without violating internal protocols or facing severe consequences. Data systems in such companies are typically monitored to prevent unauthorised access and breaches of privacy are taken seriously often resulting in strict disciplinary action or legal consequences," Behl commented.
Others, like Sanghamitra Khatu, expressed outrage at the lack of safeguards in place, stating the woman should reach out to Swiggy’s leadership and potentially pursue legal action.
Poulumi Roy, another commenter, shared her own experiences of feeling unsafe due to data privacy breaches on other apps like Mygate and NoBroker, calling attention to India’s weak cyber security laws. "I still go through this situation through apps like Mygate, No Broker etc. This is not a forum for discussing personal situations hence I keep my experience to myself. The bottom line our data are not secure, cyber bullying is common and does affect mental health. It feels weird to always look over your shoulders. Cyber security laws in our country are weak," Roy wrote.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about the safety of personal data in the digital age, particularly how it can be weaponised in the wrong hands. With the public's growing demand for stricter privacy measures, this case has ignited conversations around cyber security, with many calling for stronger consumer protections.