Pegasus spyware: Working on data protection bill, says govt

November 20, 2019 16:46

The government has taken note of the fact that a spyware/malware has affected some WhatsApp users in the country, the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.

In a written reply, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology also said that it is working on the "Personal Data Protection Bill to safeguard the privacy of citizens, and it is proposed to table it in Parliament".

"The government has taken note of the fact that spyware/malware has affected some WhatsApp users. According to WhatsApp, this spyware was developed by an Israel based company NSO Group and that it had developed and used Pegasus spyware to reach mobile phones of a possible number of 1400 users globally that includes 121 users from India," the ministry said while replying to the question asked by Asaduddin Owaisi and Imtiaz Jaleel Syed.

The ministry said that the government is committed to protecting the fundamental rights of citizens including the right to privacy and refuted media reports in the matter.

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