The power to monitor data, to make any call to the public interest in the government

New delhi date. November 19, 2019, Tuesday

In the public interest, the central government agencies have the authority to intercept, monitor and decrypt any information in digital form following the law, the central government said in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Gee responded to a question from the opposition leader on whether the government had spied on WhatsApp, Facebook, Messenger, Weber and Pegasus viruses from Google calls and messages. Kishan Reddy said that the law gives central and state governments the power to insert any information created, transmitted, received or retained on any computer.

However, official agencies can only access phone calls or digital information following a specific process of law and in accordance with safeguards provided in the rules.

In a written reply to Parliament, Kishan Reddy said that the government can intercept, monitor and obtain any digital information in view of India's integrity or integrity, security of the state, friendly relations with foreign countries or public interest.

However, no government agency has been universally approved for this. Each case is reviewed by a committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary in the case of the Central Government and the Chief Secretary in the State.