Indian journos, activists spied on; govt seeks report from WhatsApp

Facebook-owned WhatsApp on Thursday said Indian journalists and human rights activists were among those globally spied upon by unnamed entities using an Israeli spyware Pegasus. WhatsApp said it was suing NSO Group, an Israeli surveillance firm, that is reportedly behind techlogy that helped unnamed entities' spies hack into phones of roughly 1,400 users spanning across four continents and included diplomats, political dissidents, journalists, and senior government officials. However, it did t say on whose behest phones of journalists and activists across world were targeted.

WhatsApp refuses to divulge details

Refusing to divulge identities or exact number of those targeted in India, WhatsApp said it h in May stopped a highly sophisticated cyberattack that exploited its video calling system to send malware to its users. mobile messaging giant said it h sent a special WhatsApp mess to approximately 1,400 users that it has "reason to believe were impacted by this attack to directly inform m about what happened". While messaging giant didn't disclose details or number of people affected in India, a WhatsApp spokesperson said: "Indian users were among those contacted by us this week". WhatsApp has over 1.5 billion users globally, of which India alone accounts for about 400 million.

Lawsuit in California

Denying allegations, NSO said it provides "techlogy to licensed government intelligence and law enforcement ncies to help m fight terrorism and serious crime" and is t "designed or licensed for use against human rights activists and journalists." Meanwhile, Indian IT Ministry has written to WhatsApp, seeking a detailed response by Monday. A senior government official told PTI that WhatsApp has been asked to give a detailed response to entire allegations and extent of users compromised in India. WhatsApp h on Tuesday filed a lawsuit in a California federal court against NSO Group, which allegedly developed spyware, saying an attempt was me to infect approximately 1,400 "target devices" globally, including some in India, with malicious software to steal valuable information from those using messaging app.

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'Committed to fundamental right to privacy'

WhatsApp said it "believes attack targeted at least 100 members of civil society, this number may grow higher as more victims come forward". WhatsApp He Will Cathcart said se victims include human rights defenders, journalists and or members of civil society across world. "Tools that enable surveillance into our private lives are being abused, and proliferation of this techlogy into hands of irresponsible companies and governments puts us all at risk," Cathcart said in an op-ed in Washington Post. Cathcart asserted that WhatsApp was committed to fundamental right to privacy and that it is working to stay ahe of those who seek to violate that right. A cybersecurity research lab at University of Toronto, Citizen Lab, h helped WhatsApp investigate hacking incident.

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'Dispute today's allegations'

In response, NSO said: "In strongest possible terms, we dispute today's allegations and will vigorously fight m. sole purpose of NSO is to provide techlogy to licensed government intelligence and law enforcement ncies to help m fight terrorism and serious crime. Our techlogy is t designed or licensed for use against human rights activists and journalists. It has helped to save thousands of lives over recent years. truth is that strongly encrypted platforms are often used by pedophile rings, drug kingpins and terrorists to shield ir criminal activity. Without sophisticated techlogies, law enforcement ncies meant to keep us all safe face insurmountable hurdles. NSO's techlogies provide proportionate, lawful solutions to this issue."

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NSO said any use of product or than to prevent serious crime and terrorism was a misuse. "We take action if we detect any misuse. This techlogy is rooted in protection of human rights - including right to life, security, and bodily integrity - and that's why we have sought alignment with UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, to make sure our products are respecting all fundamental human rights," it said.

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