Viral Photo Of Paper Plate With Bank Details Gets Over 4 Lakh Views: ‘Is Customer Privacy A Myth In India?’

A single plate of street food has sparked a nationwide debate on data privacy. It did not come from a data breach announcement or a hacking scandal but instead, a viral image that left social media users stunned, angry and deeply uneasy about how personal information is handled in India.

The now-viral post shows a roadside food plate allegedly made from reused bank documents containing customer details. Shared on X by a user, the image was accompanied by a blunt caption, “In India, your Data Privacy is not even in your own hands.” The message struck a nerve instantly, triggering a wave of reactions across the platform.

In India, your Data Privacy is not even in your own hands

Details On Bank Documents

At first glance, it looks like an ordinary paper

plate holding street food. But a closer look reveals something far more disturbing. Portions of the paper clearly display printed fields such as names, locations and payment-related details. While some information appears scribbled out, much of it remains readable even though it is stained with food, oil and sauce.

The photo appears to have been taken in a busy public transit area, possibly near a railway station or metro stairway. Commuters can be seen in the background, walking across the platforms and in the foreground, the person is standing holding the plate. The post highlights how a document that once held sensitive financial information has been casually repurposed as disposable cutlery.

Data Privacy Concerns In Comments

Social media users were quick to react, expressing shock, outrage and dark humour over what they described as a blatant breach of data privacy. One comment questioned accountability, asking, “Banks should answer how and why papers containing customer details are being sold as recyclable paper to roadside food vendors?”

Another user went a step further, tagging IDFC First Bank and writing, “They should answer how and why papers containing customer details are being sold as recyclable paper to roadside food vendors? An organisation of this size doesn’t have adequate norms to safely dispose of such papers? Seriously?” Someone asked, “Is customer privacy a myth in India?”

Others responded with sarcasm. One remark read, “What if someone uses the EXTREMELY valuable info from this paper plate and steals all of his assets including his savings, house, vehicles and family?” While exaggerated, the comment highlighted a very real fear: how easily personal data can fall into the wrong hands.