The Pegasus issue in India refers to allegations that the Indian government used the Pegasus spyware, developed by the Israeli firm NSO Group, to surveil journalists, activists, politicians, and other citizens .
- Background:
- Pegasus Spyware: Pegasus is a sophisticated surveillance tool that can be installed on a mobile device without the user’s knowledge, allowing access to messages, calls, emails, and other data .
- NSO Group: The NSO Group claims that it only sells Pegasus to vetted governments for the purpose of combating terrorism and serious crime .
- Allegations:
- Surveillance Targets: Reports indicated that over 300 verified Indian cellphone numbers were on a list of potential targets for surveillance using Pegasus . These included journalists, activists, opposition politicians, and even some government officials .
- Government Involvement: The central issue was whether the Indian government had purchased and used Pegasus to spy on its citizens .
- Legal and Judicial Response:
- Supreme Court Intervention: Following the surfacing of these allegations, multiple petitions were filed in the Supreme Court seeking an independent investigation .
- Technical Committee: The Supreme Court appointed a technical committee, overseen by Justice R.V. Raveendran, to investigate the allegations .
- Committee Findings: The committee found no conclusive evidence of the misuse of Pegasus, though it did find signs of suspected interception of conversations and messages in a few cases .
- Government Stand: The government maintained that it would not answer questions concerning national security in “motivated petitions” .
- Key Concerns:
- Privacy Violation: The alleged use of Pegasus raised serious concerns about the violation of the right to privacy .
- Freedom of the Press: Surveillance of journalists could have a chilling effect on freedom of the press .
- Civil Liberties: The potential for widespread surveillance threatened fundamental civil liberties .
- Recent Developments:
- Supreme Court’s Stance: The Supreme Court has stated that it would withhold any report compromising national security but may address individual privacy concerns .
- Ongoing Debate: The issue continues to be debated, with questions remaining about the extent of surveillance and the safeguards needed to protect citizens’ rights .
In simple terms, the Pegasus issue involves accusations that the Indian government used spyware to spy on its citizens, raising concerns about privacy and civil liberties. A more detailed explanation includes the background of the spyware, the legal and judicial responses, and the ongoing debates surrounding the issue .
