LI Network
Published on: November 01, 2023 at 00:01 IST
The Indian government is seeking clarification from Apple regarding the security of its devices in the wake of ‘threat notifications’ sent to individuals in over 150 countries. This move comes as a response to Apple’s repeated assertions about the privacy-centric design of its products. Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar emphasized the government’s expectations during a statement on Tuesday.
The Minister of State for IT expressed the government’s intention to investigate the ‘threat notifications’ and assess Apple’s claims of device security and privacy compliance. He shared this message on social media, specifically on X (formerly Twitter).
In his statement, the minister highlighted, “After today’s ‘threat notifications’ being received by many people, including MPs, and those in geopolitics, we expect Apple to clarify the following…if its devices are secure, why these ‘threat notifications’ are sent to people in over 150 countries.”
Furthermore, he emphasized Apple’s repeated assertions that their products are designed with privacy in mind. This request for clarity comes following a series of ‘threat notifications’ sent to individuals, including Members of Parliament and those involved in geopolitics.
The government has taken action by ordering an investigation into the matter after opposition MPs reported receiving warnings of state-sponsored attackers attempting to compromise their iPhones. The investigation will be carried out by Cert-In.
Opposition leaders, including Priyanka Chaturvedi from Shiv Sena (UBT), Mahua Moitra from Trinamool Congress, Raghav Chadha from Aam Aadmi Party, Shashi Tharoor from Congress, and Pawan Khera, head of his party’s media and publicity department, shared the notifications received from Apple on social media platforms.
Notably, Sitaram Yechury, the general secretary of CPI(M), also received a similar message, according to sources within the party.
As this issue has sparked political controversy, Apple Inc., the manufacturer of iPhones, has clarified that it does not attribute threat notifications, like the ones received by opposition MPs, to any specific state-sponsored attackers.
The company has also stated that it cannot provide information on the exact causes of these warnings. This request for clarification from the government underscores the importance of ensuring the security and privacy of personal devices, especially in the realm of geopolitics and public affairs.
