The Indian Journalists Union expressed grave concern over surveillance of at least 40 journalists, among 300 others, including Opposition leaders, ministers, constitutional authorities, activists, through phone tapping by Israeli Pegasus spyware.
“The snooping on journalists is not just a breach of their right to privacy like any other citizen but worse seriously compromises their sources, amounting to stifling independent and investigative journalism,” the Union said.
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The Union demanded that the government come clean on the issue, order a judicial probe and refrain from yet another form of intimidation of journalists, specially those critical of its governance.
Stressing that a free and independent media is crucial to the functioning of democracy, the IJU said the government is trying to wash its hands off the snooping scandal by suggesting the Pegasus report was to ‘malign the Indian democracy’ was far-fetched and unacceptable.
More so, given that NSO claims it sells exclusively to vetted government clients. The data, analysed by The Wire, part of an international collaborative investigation titled ‘Pegasus Project’ shows that most of those targeted were between 2018 and 2019 i.e. in the run-up to general elections 2019.
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Forensic tests confirmed that a number of the potential victims had indeed been spied upon by unidentified sources via the Pegasus app, the Union said.
IJU president Geetartha Pathak and secretary-general Sabina Inderjit said the Union in November 2019 expressed serious concern when reports emerged that Whatsapp revealed it had informed several Indian users, including journalists, that they had been targeted by the Israeli spyware in a hacking spree.
Then too, the authorities denied any involvement, the Union said.
However, now it appears the snooping operation was far and wide and the government’s resolve to harass and intimidate journalists would have far-reaching consequences for the fourth estate, and in turn India’s democratic society.
“Given that the monsoon session of Parliament is on, the IJU said the Opposition must ensure its demand for a JPC into the scandal is instituted and the government made accountable,” the Union added.