'Are we a democracy or have we become a country that snoops on people'

The shocking revelations in the global media of Indian journalists, politicians, cabinet ministers, government functionaries being targets of surveillance operation carried out with the help of Pegasus-a spyware developed by the Israeli cyber arms firm NSO Group, has sparked a huge controversy, especially on the first day of the Parliament's Monsoon Session. A report by Chandrakala Choudhury.

New Delhi: The shocking revelations in the global media of Indian journalists, politicians, cabinet ministers, government functionaries being targets of surveillance operation carried out with the help of Pegasus-a spyware developed by the Israeli cyber arms firm NSO Group, has sparked a huge controversy, especially on the first day of the Parliament's Monsoon Session. The Pegasus controversy has not only inflicted a political storm with the opposition parties demanding the centre to be answerable to the Pegasus spyware issue but has created uproar globally.

Reacting to the issue, renowned political analyst and journalist Saba Naqvi said, "It is the biggest story that has broken and the government must institute an enquiry to find out who within the regime ordered this kind of violation of basic rights. Are we a democracy or have we become a country that snoops on people? It is so insecure that we violate the basic rights assured to citizens in our constitution and not only are we violating the rights of our citizens but we are violating that of foreigners who come to India", she told ETV Bharat

Besides reports that the Indian government may have snooped on cabinet ministers, politicians, government functionaries, journalists by using Pegasus spyware, there are also media reports by French newspaper Le Monde which says that many New Delhi based diplomats, staffs of International NGO's were also on the Pegasus list. India's Ministry of External Affairs has not reacted to the whole controversy or has given any official response on the issue so far.

Moreover, on Monday, several global media organisations reported that the telephone numbers of a British High Commission official and two officials of the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and employees of international NGOs like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation were also in the database of those targeted.

Further, exclusively speaking to ETV Bharat, political commentator and journalist Rasheed Kidwai said, "It is a very serious matter and technology is increasingly becoming a threat to democracy. There should be a thorough probe by the Joint Parliamentary committee because it is not about one individual or one party. The snoop is an attempt to compromise democracy. Phone tapping is unethical and wrong, hacking is criminal. In a vibrant democracy, even phone tapping is not welcoming".

He said that technology is playing havoc with Democracy not only in India but in several other parts of the world. "If we to deal with it, let there be a parliamentary committee who will look into it and the government will cooperate. If the government has nothing to hide then they will cooperate with it. The Government must be given the chance to find the culprit, punish and do the course correction", he opined.

When asked as to what should be India's reaction to the Pegasus row in the context of its foreign policy approach, Kidwai said, "We are a sovereign republic and the prime job of a government is to protect Democracy. If some outside elements are to be blamed or to be taken to the task, it cannot and should not affect a state to state foreign relations".

No doubt, some shocking revelations or allegations have been made but it is for the government of the day to come clean in it and investigate. And the best way to investigate is to have a joint parliamentary committee, he reiterated. The government needs to answer and regardless of the party line, the system needs to be protected otherwise who would trust who? Added Kidwai. So far, the government has not confirmed or denied whether it has purchased or deployed Pegasus spyware.

On Monday, the UN Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet has expressed concern over the Pegasus issue and said the apparent widespread use of Pegasus spy software to illegally undermine the rights of those under surveillance, including journalists and politicians, was “extremely alarming” and confirmed “some of the worst fears” surrounding the potential misuse of such technology.

The Pegasus data leak allegations which surfaced through a consortium of media organisations over the weekend, suggests widespread and continuing abuse of the software, which the manufacturers insist, is only intended for use against criminals and terrorists.