Pegasus row: SC withholds report over security, sovereignty issues

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Tuesday said it will not disclose any report that touches the security and sovereignty of the country, but indicated that it may address individual apprehensions of privacy breach.

A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh said the report of the technical committee should not be made a document for discussion on the streets.

“Any report which touches the security and sovereignty of the country will not be touched. But individuals who want to know whether they are included that can be informed. Yes, individual apprehension must be addressed, but it cannot be made a document for discussion on the streets,” the bench observed.

The top court also said it will have to examine to what extent the technical panel report can be shared with individuals.

During the hearing, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for one of the petitioners, submitted that there is a US district court judgment. “WhatsApp itself has disclosed here. Not a third party. WhatsApp has said about the hacking,” Sibal said.

The apex court said it will hear the matter July 30.

An international media consortium had reported that over 300 verified Indian cellphone numbers were on the list of potential targets for surveillance using the Pegasus spyware.

PTI

News