Pegasus: Affected citizens told to contact SC panel by Jan 7

One-liner: The technical committee appointed by the Supreme Court issued a public notice on Sunday asking citizens to come forward and contact it if they suspected that their mobile devices were infected by Pegasus malware.

Crux of the matter: The notice asked citizens to also specify the reasons as to why they believed that their device may have been infected with Pegasus malware, and whether they will allow the technical panel to examine the said device.

• The public notice, issued in leading dailies on Sunday, said such person who suspects her/his device is infected should send an email to the technical committee before noon of Jan 7, 2022

Delhi, the collection point:  The panel will give an acknowledgement for having received the instrument and also make and give the user a digital phone image for their records. The collection point will be in New Delhi. 

• Last year, a row erupted over Israeli spyware Pegasus allegedly being used for targeted surveillance in India

Need to know: In Oct last year, the Supreme Court directed a panel of experts to investigate whether the govt used military-grade private Israeli Pegasus spyware to surveil opposition leaders, activists, tycoons, judges and journalists.

Background: The SC had also observed that the state can't get a free pass every time the spectre of national security is raised and that its mere invocation can't render the judiciary a mute spectator.

Source: PTI