NEW DELHI, Aug 9: Israeli spyware Pegasus, supposed to be used by the governments for the safety and security of the country against terror attacks or other kinds of external threats, however, had no links with the Indian defence ministry.
The Ministry of Defence has “not had any transaction” with NSO Group Technologies, the government informed the Parliament on Monday.
“Ministry of Defence has not had any transaction with NSO Group Technologies,” Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha in response to a question.
NSO Group Technologies is the Israeli-based company whose spyware Pegasus was apparently used to spy on civilians including journalists, Ministers, parliamentarians and activists across the world including India as revealed by an investigation led by 17 international media groups last month. The spyware is apparently sold to the governments.
Supreme Court is currently hearing a petition on the matter filed by some senior journalists and the Editors Guild of India among others.
(Manas Dasgupta)
