Updated: September 17, 2020 6:59:34 am
The “targets”, as the ongoing investigation has revealed, include President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, key opposition leaders, and men and women from a variety of disciplines, political, legislative, scientific and strategic for the companies, the judiciary and the media.
Addressing the matter with the Chinese ambassador, the government Wednesday create a committee of experts under the National Cyber Security Coordinator to study the disclosures in China Watching, an investigation by The Indian Express, that a Shenzen-based company, with ties to the Chinese government, is monitoring more than 10,000 Indian individuals and entities.
The objectives”, as the ongoing investigation has revealed, they include President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, key opposition leaders, and men and women from a variety of disciplines, politics, legislature, science and business strategy, the judiciary And the media.
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The expert committee, led by Lt. Gen. (retd) Rajesh Pant, India’s chief cybersecurity coordinator, will assess the “implications” of Data Information Technology Co. Limited’s digital surveillance and “assess any breaches of the law and will present its recommendations within thirty days. “
This was conveyed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, S Jaishankar, in a letter to the leader of Congress and Rajya Sabha MP, KC Venugopal, who raised the issue in Rajya Sabha today.
“The Government of India takes the protection of privacy and personal data of Indian citizens very seriously. It is deeply concerned by any reports that suggest that foreign sources are accessing or attempting to access the personal data of our citizens without their consent. The Government has set up a Committee of Experts reporting to the National Cyber Security Coordinator to study these reports, assess their implications, assess any violation of the law and present its recommendations within thirty days, ”Jaishankar wrote.
Leading sources told The Indian Expresst that the key factor behind the decision to take note of this disclosure is that the issues it raises, of data security and privacy, are similar to those that prompted the government’s ban on apps. Chinese. “What we have learned about the Zhenhua project validates our concerns about Chinese mobile applications,” said an official.
Referring to the ongoing investigation of The Indian Express– its fourth part is published Wednesday – Jaishankar said the matter was discussed today by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the Chinese Ambassador.
“Our Embassy in Beijing also raised it with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Chinese side conveyed that Shenzen Zhenhua is a private company and had publicly stated its position. For its part, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintained that there was no connection between the company in question and the Chinese government, ”said Jaishankar.
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Jaishankar said that a representative of Shenzen Zhenhua in a statement “stated that the data collected comes from open sources and is no different from its peer organizations in Western countries.” He said they have denied access to private information from confidential sources. “As for OKIDB, the company stated that it was a mechanism to connect people with the social networks they use,” he said.
Jaishankar’s response came hours after Venugopal and his party colleague Rajeev Satav raised the issue during Zero Hour, prompting Rajya Sabha President M Venkaiah Naidu to tell the government to take notice. “The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, please take note of this. It has been featured prominently. So inform the minister in question, see what can be done and find out the truth, ”Naidu said.
Pressing for a discussion on the issue, Congress again filed a motion postponement notice in Lok Sabha, but President Om Birla rejected it.
During Zero Hour, Congress raised China’s “hybrid war” and its “surveillance on the Indians” on the Lok Sabha. In raising the issue, Kodikkunnil Suresh called it a “cyber war” and “direct attempt at espionage and information assault by China.”
Joining the issue, Lok Sabha Congressional Leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said: “This Crown aggression has come from China to India; on the borders, Chinese troops have carried out the aggression; and now there is a hybrid war. Does the government know? “He asked for a statement. ‘What will happen to our national security? The IT minister is here. Please tell us what is happening.”
Congress now plans to move a notice to draw attention to the issue in Lok Sabha on Thursday.
Explained | China Is Watching – Hybrid Warfare: What Data Are They Collecting, Why It Is Of Concern
Ernakulam Congress deputy Hibi Eden gave a notice of postponement motion to President Om Birla. The ad called for a broader debate on “our security architecture” and said that “this Chinese company is mocking our national security credentials … That espionage must be nipped in the bud so that our sovereign rights are protected.” The Spokesman, however, said that he would not allow the motion for postponement.
Meanwhile, in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said that China is “ready to enhance cooperation and communication with all parties, make and abide by global rules that reflect the will and respect the interests of all countries, prevent all practices that use one’s technology “advantage to undermine the security of other countries and safeguard the security of global data.”
“The company clearly stated that it is a private company and that its clients are research institutions and business groups. Instead of collecting data, it only mobilizes data that is open and available online. I would like to emphasize that as a staunch defender of cybersecurity, China opposes and fights against all cybercrime. We would like to enhance dialogue and cooperation with other countries to jointly build a peaceful, safe, open and cooperative cyberspace, ”said Wang.
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