Phones of 2 cabinet ministers, journalists ‘hacked using pegasus’; govt denies claim
The Pegasus spyware was used to hack phones of two Cabinet Ministers, journalists, and activists, a report stated quoting an investigation by a group of 17 global media organisations. However, the central government has denied the claim.
The government stated that “no unauthorised interception" has taken place. The report is not only “bereft of facts” but also “founded in pre-conceived conclusions”, it stated.
Also Read | Confirmed! Navjot Singh Sidhu appointed Punjab Congress President
As per the report, the leaked data includes the numbers of top journalists. The data also showed that most of the names were targeted between 2018 and 2019, during the 2019 Lok Sabha general elections.
Also Read | Farmers’ Protest: BKU leader Rakesh Tikait warns of ‘war’ over farm laws
The report further stated that the presence of a phone number does not reveal whether a device has been infected with Pegasus or subject to an attempted hack.
It stated that the Pegasus Project believes that the data was indicative of potential targets identified in advance of possible surveillance attempts.
It may be recalled that Pegasus spyware was sold by the Israeli company NSO Group which says it only offers its spyware to “vetted governments”.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that "The Pegasus revelations are abhorrent. If true, the Modi government seems to have launched a grave and sinister attack on the Right to Privacy - constitutionally guaranteed to Indian citizens as a Fundamental Right. This is an affront to democracy and has ominous implications for our freedoms."
-PTC News
