Pegasus and National Security

The 2021 Nobel Prize for Peace and the interim order of the Supreme Court on the possible use of Pegasus spyware by the state share something in common. While the peace prize acknowledged the efforts of two journalists for their audacity to stand up to abuse of power by the state, the interim order tried to remind the state of its democratic commitment and constitutional limits to the use of power.

The interim order stands out for its acerbic remarks on how surveillance tramples on the fundamental rights of the individuals as well as how “national security” cannot be used as a blanket excuse to snoop on people. The framework of “national security” has been on the judicial lens for its functionality to silence dissent. The Telegraph Act and the Information Technology Act will face another round of judicial and public scrutiny.