A significant controversy has erupted following allegations that Apple sent notifications to some opposition leaders in India, warning them about potential state-sponsored attacks on their iPhones. Union Minister for Electronics and Communications, Ashwini Vaishnaw, vowed to investigate these notifications, emphasizing the government's commitment to safeguarding citizens' privacy and security.
In response to the minister's remarks, Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal criticized Vaishnaw's statements as "bluff and bluster." Venugopal called on the government to be transparent about the matter and expressed doubts about the denial of using spyware on opposition leaders, highlighting the reluctance to issue a categorical denial.
Ashwini Vaishnaw had also called on Apple to participate in the investigation to provide accurate information regarding the alleged state-sponsored attacks. Apple clarified that it doesn't attribute the threat notifications to any specific state-sponsored attacker and that such attackers are well-funded and sophisticated, making detection challenging. The company explained that revealing the criteria for issuing threat notifications could aid attackers in adapting to evade detection.
Members of the opposition, including Congress leader Pawan Khera and Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, expressed concerns about the selective targeting of opposition voices and emphasized the need for a transparent and time-bound investigation into the matter.
The controversy highlights the importance of privacy and security in the digital age and underscores the challenges in addressing potential cyber threats, especially when involving state-sponsored actors. The investigation will likely shed more light on the situation and its implications.
(With Agency Inputs)
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