Congress leader Randeep Surjewala emphasized the implications of a US court ruling against Israel’s NSO Group for India’s Pegasus spyware scandal. He demanded the identification of 300 Indians targeted and questioned potential legal actions against government officials. Surjewala called for judicial oversight and transparency from Meta regarding the targeted individuals amid the ongoing controversy over surveillance practices in India.
New Delhi: Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala has reignited concerns over the Pegasus spyware scandal, asserting that a recent US court verdict has significant implications for India. The US court held Israel’s NSO Group, the creator of Pegasus, liable for its intrusive spyware, marking the first time such a ruling was made.
“The Pegasus spyware case verdict proves how 300 WhatsApp numbers of Indians were targeted in the illegal spyware racket,”
Surjewala posted on X, referencing a media report on the judgment.
He pressed the Narendra Modi government for answers about the identities of the 300 Indians targeted.
“Who are the two ministers? Who are the three opposition leaders? Who is the constitutional authority? Who are the journalists?”
asked Surjewala, demanding transparency and accountability.
Surjewala further questioned whether criminal cases would be lodged against the government officials or political executives involved, as well as the NSO Group.
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Raising the issue of judicial oversight, he asked,
“Will the Supreme Court take note of the judgment of the US court in Meta v/s NSO? Will the Supreme Court proceed to make public the report of the Committee of Technical Experts on Pegasus Spyware, submitted to it in 2021-22?”
The Congress leader also sought clarification on whether the Supreme Court would initiate further inquiries following the US ruling affirming that 1,400 WhatsApp numbers, including 300 from India, were targeted by Pegasus.
Surjewala didn’t stop there. He called on Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, to take responsibility for disclosing the names of the targeted individuals.
“Shouldn’t Facebook (now Meta) now have responsibility to release the names of 300 Indians targeted by Pegasus, considering WhatsApp and Facebook have the biggest subscriber base in India and they have ‘duty of care and disclosure’ to its clients in India?”
The Pegasus spyware controversy has been a contentious issue in India, with allegations of its use for surveillance on journalists, opposition leaders, and other prominent individuals. The US court verdict has amplified calls for greater transparency and accountability in India regarding the misuse of spyware technology.
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