Mahua Moitra writes to LS Speaker over 'state-sponsored' hacking attempts on Oppn members' iPhones

Yesterday, several Opposition members received alerts on their devices regarding the purported attempt at a hack.

New Delhi: Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Wednesday shot off a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla urging him to protect the rights of Opposition MPs who were targeted by “state-sponsored attackers” and “seek accountability” from the authorities into the “flagrant breach of law Constitutional freedoms and rights as MPs”.

Her letter came a day after Opposition leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Sitaram Yechury, KC Venugopal, Akhilesh Yadav and herself, were alerted by Apple about their iPhones being “targeted by state-sponsored attackers” who were trying to remotely access the devices.

She said this “threat is doubly shocking” in light of the use of Pegasus software, which was used to target Opposition leaders, dissenting journalists and members of civil society during 2019-21.

“In spite of the Opposition raising this issue in the House, no debate was allowed and no conclusive report has been filed by any agency,” she wrote.

Mahua emphasised that Access Now and Citizen Lab in September have confirmed the validity of Apple’s threat notifications and led it enormous credibility.

She also quoted a report in Financial Times in March this year which said the Indian government was potentially escalating its budget for spyware contracts to $120 million involving companies like Intellexa Alliance.

“This illegal surveillance by the government using software available only to state actors, is the worst attack on our fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of our great democracy,” Mahua said.

The past few years have seen targeted attacks on the democratic freedoms of members of the Opposition and voices of dissent. These include misuse of central agencies and using majoritarian force to repeal, amend and create laws empowering the government to muzzle dissent, she said.

She also claimed numerous cases of planting fabricated evidence on communication devices have come to light and innocent citizens have been framed to meet political ends.

“You, Sir, are the proverbial keeper of the faith, the guardian of the Lok Sabha and the ultimate parent to each of its members. It is in this capacity that I ask you to immediately provide the protection required for us to continue doing our duties as a vibrant Opposition which is to question and hold to account the ruling dispensation,” she said.

“I trust you will treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves and seek accountability from the concerned authorities into this flagrant breach of law, Constitutional freedoms and our rights as MPs,” she added.