Police in Gujarat said on September 15 that they plan to question Google after dismantling a network that investigators said used 513,847 fake Gmail accounts and passwords since 2022 to send hoax bomb threats.

Police said one email was sent to the Gujarat state government on September 10 before the BRICS summit in New Delhi.

Investigators arrested two people and are examining how the fake Gmail accounts used two-factor authentication. Google said its 2-Step Verification requires more than a password, such as a phone prompt or code, to sign in.

The case comes amid a wider run of hoax threats in India, where dozens of schools in Delhi have recently received bomb threat emails that were later found to be false.

Google’s Gmail policy prohibits bulk or automated email and harmful content, while India’s information technology intermediary rules require due diligence from online platforms.

🔗 Source: Reuters

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