In response to the questions posed regarding spyware Pegasus in WhatsApp, the government said it had no such information. This came after 121 Indian WhatsApp users’ phones were hacked by the same spyware a month ago. The government further cited the law – Section 69 of IT Act – under which it had the authority to intercept data in special circumstances.
Crux of the Matter
The Indian government has said it has no information on whether the spyware was deployed by any Indian Agency to intercept data.
The government stated that under Section 69 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, it had the authority to monitor intercept or decrypt user information.
The government needs to get written consent from the Union Home Secretary for the Centre, or Home Secretary of the State for the State, in case of interest of integrity and sovereignty of India, security concerns, law and order concerns, friendly relations with foreign nations, or prevention of inducement for the mentioned offenses.
The government has authorized 10 government agencies for the same – CBI, Intelligence Bureau, CBDT, RAW, NIA, ED, Narcotics Control Bureau, Directorate of Signal Intelligence, and Delhi Police Commissioner. These agencies need to go through a regulated mechanism to get permission on a case-by-case basis.
In recent times there have been allegations that Pegasus was used to track slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi authorities.
Curiopedia
Jamal Khashoggi Murder Case – Close friend of Jamal Khashoggi and other individuals have alleged that the Israel-based developer NSO’s spyware Pegasus is being used by government agencies to spy on individuals. NSO has been alleged of selling its spyware to the Saudi government that is allegedly involved in the murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The spyware Pegasus can be used to gain remote control of a mobile phone. Read More
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