London, UK: Mr. Donncha Ó Cearbhaill, the head of Amnesty International’s security lab, has reacted to the claim that India is looking for alternative spyware technology to replace NSO Group’s Pegasus surveillance software. With over 10 million members in 150+ nations, Amnesty International works to put a stop to violations of human rights. Yet, Pegasus’ use has generated debate because it has been connected to violations of privacy and human rights.
In 2021, the Supreme Court of India established a technical committee to investigate at misuse of spyware in response to revelations made by Amnesty International in the Pegasus Project. The spyware was developed by the Israeli cyber intelligence firm NSO Group and was first made available in August 2016. It is made specifically to sneak onto smartphones and tablets, giving the operator access to all messages, calls, pictures, and other data stored on the device. Pegasus is one of the most advanced and potent spyware tools in the world, and it has been used for surveillance by several countries and state agencies.
The committee concluded their investigation, but the court has not made the findings of the report public in 2022. The court further noted that the Indian authorities “did not cooperate” with the technical committee’s investigations. US President Mr. Joe Biden issued an executive order limiting the use of commercial spyware technology by the government, which has been employed by governments all over the world to intimidate civil society on 27th March 2023. 11 governments issued a joint statement committing to joint action to counter the proliferation and misuse of commercial spyware on 30th March 2023.
“It is chilling that instead of respecting human rights and ensuring accountability for those targeted by Pegasus, that the Indian government is instead looking for alternative spyware to further its surveillance capabilities,” Mr. Cearbhaill remarked.
The head further added that, “It is shameful that although spyware technology has been used to commit grave human rights violations, crush dissent, and stifle freedom of assembly and expression, governments across the world continue to recklessly advance these methods to unlawfully target dissidents and critics.”
Amnesty International’s Security Lab released new research this week revealing that a worldwide spyware hacking campaign that targeted Google’s Android operating system has impacted billions of individuals. Amnesty International conducts research, takes action, and fights for justice for those who have had their rights infringed to prevent and halt significant human rights violations. It is renowned for its efforts against extrajudicial killings, the death sentence, and torture. It has also won multiple accolades for its work in bringing attention to human rights concerns around the world.
The spyware industry continues to spiral out of control globally with dozens of companies offering similar products to Pegasus. We urgently need a global moratorium on the sale, transfer, and use of spyware until robust human rights regulatory safeguards are in place.
Mr, Cearbhaill stated.