SC-Appointed Pegasus Probe Committee Seeks Responses from Public on 11 Queries https://thewire.in/law/sc-appointed-pegasus-probe-committee-seeks-responses-from-public-on-11-queries The queries pertain to the safeguards in place to check state surveillance, the extent to which state surveillance is justified and seek suggestions on how to strengthen cyber security and balance individual rights with national security interests.
https://pegasus-india-investigation.in/invitation-to-comment/ Link to on-line form to be filed. Questions are
1.Whether the existing boundaries of State surveillance for the purposes of national security, defence of India, maintenance of public order, and prevention and investigation of offences, are well defined and understood? any other purposes?
2. Whether the procedures and rules .. surveillance are sufficient to effectively prevent unwarranted excessive routine use/misuse;
3. What substantive and procedural safeguards – would you suggest?
3b) How can existing procedures be improved?
4. What should be the grievance redressal mechanism
5: Should there be special safeguards, in what form, for certain categories of persons?
6: contexts and extent of State immunity/access for acts of hacking, unauthorised access etc
6 b) legal mandates to share data with (IT) intermediaries. Data Protection?
7 Should the State be obliged to record or disclose surveillance technology/access ? To whom? What form?
Should these records be accessible ?
8. Practicality and Feaseability under the Indian federal constitutional framework,
9. steps to improve cyber security of the Nation and its assets?
Is there a need for a separate authority or organisation to (i) investigate cyber security vulnerabilities for threat assessment relating to cyber-attacks and (ii) to ensure cybersecurity of public and private digital infrastructure?
10. What laws and safeguards should be put in place by the State to protect its citizens from targeted surveillance by non-State/private entities and foreign agencies?
11 Any other suggestion