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NEW DELHI: Amid reports that India was the fifth most monitored country by the National Security Agency (NSA), US' foreign surveillance agency that scans worldwide internet data, India on Monday expressed concern and surprise over the disclosure.
The foreign ministry said that it will take up the matter with US authorities. The government also made it clear that it would be "unacceptable" if it was found that domestic laws relating to privacy of information of citizens were violated.
"Yes, we are concerned and surprised about it," external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.
Government's concern found support from the CPM. The leading Left party also asked the government to protest against the intrusive intelligence gathering by the US with the help of companies such as Microsoft, Google, Yahoo and Facebook etc. In a statement, the party said India should also join hands with other countries to make these companies accountable to people who use their services across the globe. "India must also press for an immediate initiative to democratize internet governance and ensure US intelligence agencies do not override the sovereignty of countries and rithe rights of individuals," the party said.
Akbaruddin said that the US and India have a cyber security dialogue which is coordinated by national security councils on both sides. "We feel that this is the appropriate fora to discuss such issues. We intend to seek information and details during consultations between interlocutors from both sides on this matter in that appropriate forum," Akbaruddin told reporters here.
Asked about possible violations of Indian privacy laws, he said, "Obviously, we will find it to be unacceptable if Indian laws relating to privacy of information of Indian ordinary citizens have been violated. Surely we will, frankly, find it unacceptable". He noted that reports about the spy programme were an evolving situation.
"Every day we find new issues coming up. We will take it as it evolves and have a better understanding and a clearer paradigm of how to tackle this issue once broader parameters in its entirety are available for us," he said.
According to UK's Guardian newspaper, India was the fifth most tracked country. The daily claims to have acquired top secret documents about the NSA data-mining tool, called Boundless Informant.
A snapshot of the Boundless Informant data, contained in a top secret NSA "global heat map", shows that in March 2013 the agency collected 97 billion pieces of intelligence from computer networks worldwide. It showed that Iran was the country where the largest amount of intelligence was gathered, with more than 14 billion reports in that period, followed by 13.5 billion from Pakistan. Jordan, one of America's closest Arab allies, came third with 12.7 billion, followed by Egypt (7.6 billion) and India (6.3 billion).
Link - India to seek details from US about snooping reports - The Times of India
The foreign ministry said that it will take up the matter with US authorities. The government also made it clear that it would be "unacceptable" if it was found that domestic laws relating to privacy of information of citizens were violated.
"Yes, we are concerned and surprised about it," external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.
Government's concern found support from the CPM. The leading Left party also asked the government to protest against the intrusive intelligence gathering by the US with the help of companies such as Microsoft, Google, Yahoo and Facebook etc. In a statement, the party said India should also join hands with other countries to make these companies accountable to people who use their services across the globe. "India must also press for an immediate initiative to democratize internet governance and ensure US intelligence agencies do not override the sovereignty of countries and rithe rights of individuals," the party said.
Akbaruddin said that the US and India have a cyber security dialogue which is coordinated by national security councils on both sides. "We feel that this is the appropriate fora to discuss such issues. We intend to seek information and details during consultations between interlocutors from both sides on this matter in that appropriate forum," Akbaruddin told reporters here.
Asked about possible violations of Indian privacy laws, he said, "Obviously, we will find it to be unacceptable if Indian laws relating to privacy of information of Indian ordinary citizens have been violated. Surely we will, frankly, find it unacceptable". He noted that reports about the spy programme were an evolving situation.
"Every day we find new issues coming up. We will take it as it evolves and have a better understanding and a clearer paradigm of how to tackle this issue once broader parameters in its entirety are available for us," he said.
According to UK's Guardian newspaper, India was the fifth most tracked country. The daily claims to have acquired top secret documents about the NSA data-mining tool, called Boundless Informant.
A snapshot of the Boundless Informant data, contained in a top secret NSA "global heat map", shows that in March 2013 the agency collected 97 billion pieces of intelligence from computer networks worldwide. It showed that Iran was the country where the largest amount of intelligence was gathered, with more than 14 billion reports in that period, followed by 13.5 billion from Pakistan. Jordan, one of America's closest Arab allies, came third with 12.7 billion, followed by Egypt (7.6 billion) and India (6.3 billion).
Link - India to seek details from US about snooping reports - The Times of India
