Apple has issued a warning to at least 20 prominent Indians, including opposition politicians and journalists, about potential state-sponsored cyberattacks. The tech giant believes these individuals were targeted for electronic surveillance. The warning has reignited allegations that the government is using electronic surveillance against its domestic political rivals and critics.
Apple characterizes these attacks on its user page as “extremely well-funded and highly sophisticated.” They are dynamic, evolving over time, and are pinpointed at a select few individuals and their devices.
The Targets
Among those who received the warning from Apple were several opposition Members of Parliament (MPs), including Shashi Tharur from the Indian National Congress (opposition party), Akhilesh Yadav, the president of the Samajwadi party or Raghav Chadha, of the Aam Aadmi Party. Rahul Gandhi (Opposition party leader), Mahua Moitra, and Priyanka Chaturvedi also reported that several people in his office received the alert. In addition to politicians, at least three journalists and a think tank chief were also alerted.
The Government’s Response
The government has denied any involvement in these alleged hacking attempts. Federal ministers dismissed the allegations, with one calling it “destructive politics” but added that the government would “investigate to get to the bottom of these notifications”. Federal information technology minister Ashwini Vaishnaw posted on social media that the government has asked Apple to join its investigation “with real, accurate information on the alleged state-sponsored attacks”.
Apple’s Stance
Apple has not attributed the threat notifications to any specific state-sponsored organization. On its support page for users, Apple states that “state-sponsored attackers are very well-funded and sophisticated, and their attacks evolve over time”. It also mentions that detecting such attacks relies on threat intelligence signals that are often imperfect and incomplete.
The Implications
This development comes just months ahead of next year’s general elections, raising serious concerns about digital espionage. It also recalls the 2021 allegations that authorities in India used the Pegasus surveillance system against opponents.
Note: The facts gathered for this report are sourced from public statements by Apple, cybersecurity expert opinions, and global news reports related to the topic. Details specific to the Indian digital context have been derived from studies about cybersecurity and digitization in India. For detailed news read the Washington Post’s report here.
