Pegasus Project revelations in India: Difference between revisions

In India, the [[Pegasus Project (investigation)|Pegasus Project]] investigations alleged that the [[Pegasus (spyware)|Pegasus]] spyware was used on [[Union Council of Ministers|ministers]], [[Opposition (politics)|opposition]] leaders, political strategist and tacticians, [[journalist]]s, [[Activism|activists]], [[Minority group|minority]] leaders, [[Supreme Court of India|supreme court]] judges, [[Clergy|religious leaders]], administrators like [[Election Commissioner of India|Election Commissioners]] and heads of [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] (CBI).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Phones Of Indian Politicians, Journalists Hacked Using Pegasus: 10 Facts On Report|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/40-indian-journalists-targeted-by-pegasus-spyware-their-phones-hacked-report-2489415|access-date=2021-07-28|website=NDTV.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|others=Special Correspondent|date=2021-07-19|title=Pegasus spyware used to 'snoop' on Indian journalists, activists|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pegasus-spyware-used-to-snoop-on-indian-journalists-activists/article35399573.ece|access-date=2021-07-28|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-19|title=Phones of 2 Ministers, 3 Opp leaders among many targeted for surveillance: report|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/project-pegasus-phones-of-2-ministers-3-opp-leaders-among-many-targeted-for-surveillance-report-7411027/|access-date=2021-07-28|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> Some of these phones were later analyzed  by Amnesty International and were confirmed to have been targeted by the Pegasus spyware.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-07-19|title=Pegasus: Rahul Gandhi, Prashant Kishor among those allegedly targeted|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/pegasus-rahul-gandhi-prashant-kishore-among-those-allegedly-targeted-121071901045_1.html|access-date=2021-07-28}}</ref><ref name="thewire.in">{{Cite web|title=Snoop List Has 40 Indian Journalists, Forensic Tests Confirm Presence of Pegasus Spyware on Some|url=https://thewire.in/media/pegasus-project-spyware-indian-journalists|access-date=2021-07-28|website=The Wire}}</ref> The supreme court on India has constituted a technical committee to investigate the alleged spy attack on certain individuals who had complained in regard to the Pegasus software. The technical committee has been directed to investigate whether the Pegasus suite of software was used on digital devices of citizens to access stored data, hatch conversations or intercept any information. The committee supervised by former Supreme Court judge Justice RV Raveendran will gain details of the victims or people affected by an alleged spyware attack.<ref>{{Cite web |title=29 phones examined, SC-appointed panel to submit Pegasus probe report by mid-June |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/india/2022/05/20/29-phones-examined-sc-appointed-panel-to-submit-pegasus-probe-re.html |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=OnManorama}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=India |first=Press Trust of |date=2022-05-20 |title=Pegasus snooping row: SC asks probe panel to submit report within 4 weeks |work=Business Standard India |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/pegasus-snooping-row-sc-asks-probe-panel-to-submit-report-within-4-weeks-122052000402_1.html |access-date=2022-06-20}}</ref>

[[File:Shri Alok Kumar Verma (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Alok Verma]], former Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation]]

[[File:Umar khalid.jpg|thumb|[[Umar Khalid]], student leader and activist who is awaiting trial in prison]]

* [[Umar Khalid]], a left-wing student activist and leader of the Democratic Students' Union, was added to the list in late 2018, then charged with [[Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code|sedition]]. He was accused of organising riots, and charged with sedition and UAPA and arrested in September 2020. the alleged evidence was taken from his phone. He is currently in jail awaiting trial.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=2021-07-19|title=Pegasus project: spyware leak suggests lawyers and activists at risk across globe|url=http://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/jul/19/spyware-leak-suggests-lawyers-and-activists-at-risk-across-globe|access-date=2021-07-28|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref>

In a tweet, the [[Press Club of India]] (PCI) issued a statement:<blockquote>This is the first time in the history of this country that all pillars of our democracy — judiciary, Parliamentarians, media, executives & ministers — have been spied upon. This is unprecedented and the PCI condemns unequivocally. The snooping has been done for ulterior motives. What is disturbing is that a foreign agency, which has nothing to do with the national interest of the country, was engaged to spy on its citizens. This breeds distrust and will invite anarchy. The Govt should come out clean on this front and clarify.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/pcitweets/status/1417013381563699201|access-date=2021-07-28|website=Twitter|language=en}}</ref></blockquote>Similarly, the [[Editor's Guild of India]] also released a statement directed against the alleged spying made by the Indian government, saying:<blockquote>This act of snooping essentially conveys that journalism and political dissent are now equated with 'terror'. How can a constitutional democracy survive if governments do not make an effort to protect freedom of speech and allows surveillance with such impunity?</blockquote>It asked for a [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] monitored enquiry into the matter, and further demanded that the inquiry committee should include people of impeccable credibility from different walks of life—including journalists and civil society—so that it can independently investigate the facts around the extent and intent of snooping using the services of Pegasus.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Editors Guild Joins Call for SC-Monitored Probe Into Pegasus Snooping Allegations|url=https://thewire.in/media/pegasus-project-editors-guild-supreme-court-probe|access-date=2021-07-28|website=The Wire}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Editors Guild of India seeks Supreme Court-monitored probe into Pegasus case|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/editors-guild-of-india-seeks-supreme-court-monitored-probe-into-pegasus-case/cid/1823347|access-date=2021-07-28|website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</ref>