CDT Joins HRW, Other Civil Rights Orgs in Urging India to Investigate Illegal Use of Spyware, Push Reforms
The Center for Democracy & Technology has joined Human Rights Watch, Access Now, International Commission of Jurists, Electronic Privacy Information Center, Electronic Frontier Foundation, PEN America, Privacy International, Freedom House, the Association for Progressive Communications, and Civicus, in calling on Indian authorities to credibly and promptly investigate the government’s alleged use of advanced spyware to target activists and apparent opponents.
Our call was prompted by reports that Pegasus spyware, developed by the NSO Group, was being used to surveil Indian human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, and opposition politicians. Use of such spyware is illegal in India.
We also called on the Indian government to reform surveillance law in India by establishing proper judicial and parliamentary oversight of surveillance, consistent with international human rights standards and the landmark digital rights case in India, Puttaswamy v. Union of India.
