New Delhi, April 29: The Supreme Court of India ruled on Tuesday that it would not release any report related to the Pegasus spyware case that touches upon the country’s security and sovereignty. However, the Court hinted that it may address individual concerns regarding privacy violations.
A bench consisting of Justice Surya Kant and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh clarified that the technical committee’s report should not be a public discussion point.
“Any report that involves the country’s security and sovereignty will remain undisclosed. However, individuals who suspect they may be affected can be informed. Individual concerns about privacy breaches must be addressed, but the report cannot become a public topic of debate,” the bench observed.
Additionally, the Court noted that it would assess how much of the technical panel’s findings can be shared with individuals on a case-by-case basis.
During the proceedings, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing one of the petitioners, referenced a US district court judgment related to the case. He highlighted that WhatsApp, the messaging platform at the center of the spyware controversy, had itself disclosed the hacking activity, emphasizing that this was not information from a third party.
The Supreme Court scheduled the next hearing on the matter for July 30.
The Pegasus spyware scandal had made headlines internationally after a media consortium revealed that over 300 verified Indian phone numbers were allegedly targeted for surveillance using the spyware.
