Recently some leaks associated with NSO Group’s spyware surfaced online which has sparked a controversy across the globe. NSO is an Israeli cyber-intelligence whose Pegasus software is in global headlines since last week. It was revealed that the software was being used to target hundreds of phones in India and the fact that Pegasus can infect a device with the target having no knowledge about the breach is a matter of grave concern.
The integrity of the democratic institutions is at stake. Only a few devices that have been subjected to forensic analysis could mean that we have only realised a certain fraction of what may be a bigger problem. Pegasus software is capable of tracking every element of your phone be it messages, contacts, call logs, passwords, browsing history, and much more. It can even have access to your device utilities such as a camera and microphone and can be used to introduce material that can be used as a piece of evidence against the target.
To ensure safety and keep order, Indian citizens have given the state power and subjected some of their rights to restrictions. But the constitution doesn’t allow the state to invade the private and professional lives of the citizens. It should definitely be considered a violation of the constitution If any government is involved in illegal practices that Pegasus represents.