Pegasus: Editors Guild demands SC-monitored probe into phone tapping allegations

Expressing shock over media reports on widespread surveillance on journalists and politicians using Pegasus spyware the Editors Guild of India have demanded an independent Supreme Courtmonitored inquiry into the alleged snoopingldquoThe Editors Guild of India EGI is shocked by the media reports on the widespread surveillance allegedly mounted by government agencies on journalists civil society activists businessmen and politicians using a hacking software known as Pegasus created and developed by the Israeli company NSOrdquo the Guild said in a statement shared on TwitterEGI is shocked by the media reports on the wide spread surveillance allegedly mounted by government agencies on journalists civil society activists businessmen and politicians using a hacking software known as Pegasus created and developed by the Israeli company NSO pictwittercomI4M9pOsPTtmdash Editors Guild of India IndEditorsGuild July 21 2021It said the reports which have been published worldwide over the last few days by a consortium of 17 publications point towards surveillance by multiple governments across the world ldquoSince NSO claims that it only sells this software to government clients vetted by the government of Israel it deepens suspicion of involvement of Indian government agencies in snooping on its own citizensrdquo read the EGI statementAn international media consortium had recently reported that over 300 verified mobile phone numbers including two ministers over 40 journalists three opposition leaders besides scores of business persons and activists in India could have been targeted for hacking using Pegasus softwarespyware The EGI condemned the surveillance on journalists saying it was an attack on the freedom of the pressldquoWhile some of the instances of surveillance might have been targeted against those who may be seen as credible national security threats what is disturbing is that a large number of such targets were journalists and civil society activists This is a brazen and unconstitutional attack on freedom of speech and pressrdquo the Guild said adding that this act of snooping essentially conveys that journalism and political dissent are ldquonow equated with terrorldquoHow can a constitutional democracy survive if governments do not make an effort to protect freedom of speech and allow surveillance with such impunityrdquo it said Seeking an independent probe into the matter the EGI demanded that the inquiry committee must include journalists and civil society activists to ensure independent investigationAlso Read Pegasus issue Parliamentary panel likely to question officials on July 28 say sourcesldquoThis is a moment that demands deep introspection and inquiry into the kind of society we are heading towards and how far we may have veered away from the democratic values enshrined in our constitutionldquoThe Guild demands an urgent and independent inquiry into these snooping charges under the aegis of the Supreme Court of India We also demand that this inquiry committee should include people of impeccable credibility from different walks of lifeincluding journalists and civil societyso that it can independently investigate facts around the extent and intent of snooping using the services of Pegasusrdquo the statement addedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever