Government Allows Private Firms to Enter National Crime Databases

India's government has recently passed a controversial decision allowing private companies to access the national databases of crimes and criminals as part of their employee background checks. Companies will get access to databases of National Data Centre (NDC), National Database of Sexual Offenders (NSDO), and Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) regarding a person’s arrests, convictions, ongoing investigations, court cases, and lists of proclaimed offenders. Companies can independently verify a candidate's criminal history, instead of relying on third-party background check vendors who rely on the police for such requests. People familiar with the issue suggested the government intends to benefit from the data as companies will be charged for such access.