Pegasus snooping: Using spy technology against civil society, regime critics, journalists still of concern, says US: The Tribune India

[ad_1]

Washington, July 24

The United States has said it is against the use of spy technology on civil society, regime critics and journalists by “extrajudicial means”, although it has maintained that it does not. had no particular idea of ​​the Pegasus spy case in India.

The alleged use of the Pegasus software to spy on politicians, journalists, human rights defenders and others in many countries, including India, has raised concerns over privacy issues. Politicians, rights activists and journalists were among those targeted by spyware for phones sold to various governments by Israeli company NSO Group Technologies, according to an international media consortium.

“The idea of ​​using this kind of technology against civil society, critics of the regime, journalists or anyone else through extrajudicial means is always worrying,” said acting deputy secretary for South and Central Asian affairs. , Dean Thompson, at a press conference. here Friday.

The international media consortium reported on Sunday that more than 300 verified mobile phone numbers of more than 40 journalists, three opposition leaders and a sitting judge, as well as dozens of businessmen and activists in India , could have been targeted for hacking via the Pegasus spyware.

India flatly rejected allegations linked to Pegasus’ spy line on Monday, saying attempts were being made to “defame” Indian democracy. Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said illegal surveillance was not possible with checks and balances in the laws of the land.

“The July 18, 2021 news reports also appear to be an attempt to slander Indian democracy and its well-established institutions,” Vaishnaw told parliament. India, the minister said, has an “established protocol on surveillance … no form of illegal surveillance is possible with the checks and balances of our laws and strong institutions.” State Foreign Minister Meenakshi Lekhi said on Thursday that the story of alleged espionage via Israeli spyware Pegasus was “concocted, fabricated and without evidence” and that reports based on it called for diffamation “.

Asked about the Pegasus spying case in India, Thompson said, “We – I don’t have any specific information on the case in India.”

“I know this is a bigger problem, but I’ll say we’ve been, I think, loud enough trying to find ways for companies to make sure their technology isn’t used in this way. And we will certainly continue to insist on these issues, “he said.

[ad_2]