Apple hacking alert becomes latest flashpoint between Opposition and Centre | What’s the controversy all about | India News
Political controversy over Apple hacking alert row
Source: PTI
New Delhi: A fresh political controversy erupted on Tuesday after several opposition leaders claimed that they received hacking alert notifications from Apple and accused the BJP-led government of snooping, a charge firmly rejected by IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The message in question cautioned the leaders about “state-sponsored attackers attempting remote compromises” on their iPhones. Following the claims, iPhone-maker Apple said that it “does not attribute the notifications to any specific state-sponsored attacker”.
Also Read: ‘Probe ordered, Centre will get to the bottom of it’: Ashwini Vaishnaw on Apple hacking alert row
Key points on big story
- The opposition leaders, including Congress’ Shashi Tharoor, Trinamool Congress’ Mahua Moitra, AAP’s Raghav Chadha and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi earlier today claimed to have received a warning message from Apple about “state-sponsored attackers trying to remotely compromise” their iPhone. They also shared the purported screenshots of of the messages/emails on their social media platforms.
- Responding to the claims of the opposition leaders, Apple in a brief statement said that it does not attribute the notifications to any specific state-sponsored attacker and that it is possible that some Apple threat notifications may be “false alarms” or that some attacks are not detected. The tech giant said it is “unable to provide information about what causes” the issue of such notifications, as doing so “may help state-sponsored attackers adapt their behavior to evade detection in the future”.
- The threat notification in question reads, “Apple believes you are being targeted by state-sponsored attackers who are trying to remotely compromise the iPhone associated with your Apple ID.” The message also said that the attackers are targetting political leaders individually because of “who you are or what you do”. It warned the politicians that the attackers might be able to remotely access sensitive data, communications, or even the camera and microphone.
- After receiving the message, the opposition leaders were quick to target the BJP-led Centre, accusing it of attacking democracy. Sharing the screenshots of the alerts, Shashi Tharoor said, “Glad to keep underemployed officials busy at the expenses of taxpayers like me! Nothing more important to do?” Mahua Moitra said she will be writing officially to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and urge him to summon Home Ministry officials on the phones and emails being hacked. She also said the issue should be taken up by Privileges Committee. Yechury said that remote access to his mobile phone could be used for “planting” information on his device which could be used to “incriminate” him.
- IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw assured the government “will investigate to get to the bottom of these notifications”. He also said that Apple has been asked to join the investigation with real and accurate information on the alleged state-sponsored attacks. MoS IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said similar “threat notifications” were sent to people in over 150 countries by Apple.
- Countering the opposition leaders’ hacking charge, Vaishnaw said that “compulsive critics” were indulging in the politics of “distraction” as they could not tolerate the country’s progress under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
- Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also hit out at the Centre over the matter and said that the government can do as much “phone tapping” as it wants and that they are not scared. “If you want to take my phone, I will give it to you..,” he said.
Also Read: ‘State-sponsored attacks’ on their phones: Shashi Tharoor and Mahua Moitra accuse Centre of snooping
