Internet spying: India voices surprise and concern, to seek details from US
12 Jun 2013 5:46 AM IST
Voicing surprise and concern, India on Tuesday said it will seek information and details from US over reports that it was the fifth most tracked country by the American intelligence which used a secret data-mining programme to monitor worldwide internet data.
New Delhi 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.
He said that 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.
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 was an evolving situation.
‘Every day we find new issues coming up. We will take it, rather than jump to conclusions at this stage.
New Delhi 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.
He said that 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.
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 was an evolving situation.
‘Every day we find new issues coming up. We will take it, rather than jump to conclusions at this stage.
Next Story
