The police department has assured the public that the ‘eTraffic’ app, introduced by the department, prioritizes data security and will soon be available for download on both the Play Store and Apple Store next week.
Police Media Spokesperson, SSP Buddhika Manatunga, addressed concerns raised about the app following recent cyber attacks on the police’s social media accounts. He clarified that the official website had not been compromised during the cyber attack, which mainly targeted the police’s YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter accounts. Manatunga stated that the police were able to restore all four accounts within four to five hours, though it took additional time to restore the YouTube account.
SSP Manatunga responded to concerns regarding privacy and data security raised by senior researcher Dr. Sanjana Hattotuwa. Dr. Hattotuwa had pointed out that the app’s absence from the Google Play Store at the time raised questions about potential issues with the app’s reliability. In response, Manatunga assured the public that the app does not store any personal data. “The app only connects to an account, and the police have no malicious intent. The aim is to encourage public participation to ensure law and order. If any vulnerabilities are identified, they will be addressed in the future,” he said.
He also emphasized that experts were consulted during the app’s development to ensure its security and reliability. The police department is committed to ensuring that the app will function as intended without compromising public data security.
