Google Faces Probe Over Half Million Fake Gmail Accounts Used to Send Bomb Threats
Gujarat Police is planning to question Google about security vulnerabilities on its platform following the dismantling of a massive operation that created and operated over half a million fake Gmail accounts.
The operation, which was busted in Gujarat, involved two individuals who used the fake accounts to send bomb threats to state institutions. The authorities seized credentials for 513,847 Gmail profiles that had been actively used since 2022.
Vivek Bheda, a senior cybercrime official heading the Gujarat police unit, said investigators intend to formally name Google as a subject of the ongoing probe. He noted that the volume of manufactured profiles was unprecedented and authorities will reach out to the company demanding policy updates to eliminate loopholes that let bad actors sidestep account verification protocols.
The operation gained urgency after Gujarat state government offices received a bomb threat on September 10, just days ahead of the BRICS summit gathering held in New Delhi. The threatening message singled out partner nations cooperating with India during the diplomatic summit.