India is a “robust democracy committed to ensuring the right to privacy to all its citizens as a fundamental right”, the Govt said in response to some of the media organisations that reported on Sunday a surveillance operation targeting politicians, journalists & activists.
A consortium of 17 media organisations, including The Guardian, The Washington Post & India’s The Wire, said a phone hacking software known as Pegasus was used to target potentially thousands of people around the world. The software is made by Israel-based NSO Group, which said it only supplies to Govt clients.
In its response published by The Guardian, The Indian Govt termed the reports a “fishing expedition” & said there is no concrete basis or truth associated with the claim that there was government surveillance on specific people.
“The commitment to free speech as a fundamental right is the cornerstone of India’s democratic system. We have always strived to attain an informed citizenry with an emphasis on a culture of open dialogue,” it said.
The news agency reached out the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology but did not receive a confirmation on the response. Screenshots of an email sent by the ministry to one of the journalists were shared by another news agency.
The statement added that the “questionnaire sent to the Government of India indicates that the story being crafted is one that is not only bereft of facts but also founded in pre-conceived conclusions. It seems you are trying to play the role of an investigator, prosecutor as well as jury”.
The Govt said, “It also indicates poorly conducted research & lack of due diligence by the esteemed media organizations involved".
It added that the Minister of Electronics & IT has spoken in detail, including in the Parliament, that there has been no unauthorised interception by Govt agencies.
The Govt said that “It is important to note that government agencies have a well-established protocol for interception, which includes sanction & supervision from highly ranked officials in central & state governments, for clear stated reasons only in national interest,".
It added that each case of interception, monitoring, & decryption is approved by a competent authority “i.e. the Union Home Secretary”.
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