iPhone Hacking Alert Live — Government Has No Role In This, Union Minister Piyush Goyal Says

Hello and welcome to ABP Live Apple iPhone Hacking Alert Live blog, please follow this space for all the latest information and updates.

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Hello and welcome to ABP Live Apple iPhone Hacking Alert Live blog, please follow this space for all the latest information and updates. On Tuesday, several MPs from the Opposition parties flagged that they received an alert from Apple stating that "state-sponsored attackers may be targeting" their iPhones. Several MPs from Opposition parties like Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Trinamool Congress took to X to share the alert that they received. The alert that "state-sponsored attackers may be targeting your iPhone" was received by most of the Parliamentarians, on their iPhones handsets from manufacturer Apple, who took to X to raise the issue.  Trinamool Congress MP, Mahua Moitra shared the screenshot of the alert saying, "Received text & email from Apple warning me Govt trying to hack into my phone & email" as she lambasted the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the alleged snooping. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said she also received the alert and slammed the Centre for "large-scale surveillance". "The way I received a warning last night, shows that this is a sponsored program of the Central Government and that I need to take precautions.""The warning clearly says that these attacks are 'state-sponsored'...Why are the leaders of the Opposition only getting such messages? This shows that large-scale surveillance is underway. There should be an investigation on this, and the Centre needs to give a clarification on the same," she added. Congress leaders Pawan Khera and Shashi Tharoor, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, Aam Aadmi Party leader Raghav Chadha, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury also shared that they received similar alerts. Moitra said Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav and some people from the office of Rahul Gandhi were also on the list of such people. 

31/10/2023 17:30:28

iPhone Hacking Alert Live — Govt has history of 'Peeping Tom' behaviour, claims TMC MP Mahua Moitra

"They have a history of what I call 'Peeping Tom' behaviour. In 2021, there was Pegasus spyware they brought from Israel and it went to court and nothing came out of it. This is the second time. Obviously, 2024 (elections) is coming up and they want to distract from the main issues," says TMC MP Mahua Moitra.

"If something happens to us - MPs, the Speaker should take suo motu action and call a Privilege Committee meeting immediately. But what are we seeing? We are talking about some Parliamentary question login. This is utter rubbish. I am going to go in there and demolish it. They want to keep me out of Parliament and suspend me, but they can't even touch a hair on my head," she added, as per PTI.

31/10/2023 17:26:24

iPhone Hacking Alert Live — Why is Govt so scared that it's punishing Oppn in mass surveillance, Priyanka Chaturvedi claims

On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Adani Sarkar' remark, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi says, "The way a government of dictatorship is running, when we were growing up we heard about how tough the emergency was. PM Modi, JP Nadda, and HM Amit Shah keep speaking about it in public address every two days. They keep reminding us of the emergency, but we are living in the emergency. The task of shutting down the opposition is an active campaign of the BJP. We will give independence to all the agencies that have been undermined, we will give them the confidence that they can investigate in a free and fair manner... There would be action against those who have taken advantage of their close proximity with the PM... Why is the Central government so scared that it is punishing opposition leaders in mass surveillance."

31/10/2023 17:24:20

iPhone Hacking Alert Live — Those scared of losing in elections sending such messages, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh says

TMC leader Kunal Ghosh says, "These people have realised that they will not be elected again in the Lok Sabha...Those who are scared of losing in the elections are sending such messages to the opposition leaders..." (ANI)

31/10/2023 17:23:18

iPhone Hacking Alert Live — BJP blaming international state agencies, it is ridiculous: Priyanka Chaturvedi

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi says, "First of all they are talking about an investigation, which means they have clearly said that there has been a breach. And they have not denied that the Apple notification received by the opposition leaders is wrong in any manner. And I want to know who have they spoken to. They are talking on the basis of a statement dated August 22. I want to see a fresh statement... An investigation will tell who is behind this. They (BJP) are blaming international state agencies, it is ridiculous that they want to target opposition leaders in India. Besides being opposition leaders, we are also Indian citizens and our fundamental right to privacy is being denied..." (ANI)

31/10/2023 17:01:12

iPhone Hacking Alert Live — Government has no role in this, Union Minister Piyush Goyal says

"I think Opposition is going through a very weak phase these days, so they see conspiracy in everything. The reality is that Apple has itself cleared that this was some sort of malfunction and this message has reached people in 150 countries...It seems that this was an error from Apple's end, hackers too are active across the world. This will be investigated. Apple too has been told to join in...I think perhaps someone did a prank on the Opposition leaders. They should lodge an official complaint and the Government will take appropriate action on that basis..."

"They (Opposition) can claim anything they want but the country knows their situation, they are so tangled into their infightings. They should look at their weaknesses first instead of commenting on us. It is clear that the government has no role in this and the government doesn't need to do anything like this," he added. (ANI)

31/10/2023 16:58:50

iPhone Hacking Alert Live — Apple should share all the details, Omar Abdullah says

National Conference Vice President and former J&K CM Omar Abdullah says, "...It should be investigated. Information was received earlier also that Israel's software Pegasus was sold to this country and it was used to spy on people. Apple should share all the details and after proper investigation, the truth should be told to the people..." (ANI)

31/10/2023 15:37:13

iPhone Hacking Alert Live — Rahul Gandhi was speaking today, script was of George Soros, BJP claims

"Rahul Gandhi was speaking today, but the script was of George Soros (billionaire investor)," says BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia (PTI)

31/10/2023 15:35:47

iPhone Hacking Alert Live — 'Why Rahul Gandhi and others don't follow the legal process,' BJP Asks Oppn

On Apple's 'state-sponsored attack' message to some Opposition members, BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia says, "...Apple has made it clear that these alerts are often false alarms...It should be asked why Rahul Gandhi and others don't follow the legal process, don't file a Police complaint or write to Apple company but do politics. We too have spoken to cyber experts -  there are a few countries that have enmity against India and are experts in spying of this kind, I would like to say that malware, phishing and spyware come on your phone when an individual accesses such websites and even watch wrong content."

"Rahul Gandhi, I would like to request you to make good use of your mobile phone. Don't forge an alliance with any such anti-national force or don't access any such website which is inappropriate for any Indian," he remarked, as per ANI.

31/10/2023 15:20:53

iPhone Hacking Alert Live — Govt to probe matter, Apple asked to join investigation: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

"The Government of Bharat takes its role of protecting the privacy and security of all citizens very seriously and will investigate to get to the bottom of these notifications. In light of such information and widespread speculation, we have also asked Apple to join the investigation with real, accurate information on the alleged state sponsored attacks," posts Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

31/10/2023 14:50:24

iPhone Hacking Alert Live: Sitaram Yechury Says He Also Received Alert, Calls It 'Absolute Assault On Democratic Rights'

CPI(M) leader Sitraram Yechury says he also got the alert by Apple "wherein it was clearly stated that your phone is being hacked by state-sponsored hackers."

"This constitutes an absolute assault on the democratic rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India," says Yechury. 

31/10/2023 14:41:57

'An Assault On Democratic Rights': CPI-M's Yechury Says He Also Received iPhone 'Hack' Alert

CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said that he also got the iPhone "hack" alert, like the other leaders of the opposition.

"I got this alert last night, wherein it was clearly stated that your phone is being hacked by state-sponsored hackers. This constitutes an absolute assault on the democratic rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India," he said.

31/10/2023 14:40:40

iPhone Hacking Alert Live — Rahul Gandhi Raking Issue Under Influence Of Foreign-Funded Agencies: Amit Malviya

Bharatiya Janata Party IT cell chief Amit Malviya says that the issue has been raked up by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi under the influence of foreign-funded agencies.

"Apple has clarified that they have sent several such notifications across the world. Approximately users in 150 counties have received such notifications and they are also not able to point out why such notifications have been triggered. So, for the Opposition to allege that this is being done at the behest of the government is absolutely baseless," says Malviya.

"Rahul Gandhi apparently under the influence of foreign-funded agencies keeps raking these issues but has never cooperated with the investigation. The Opposition does not have any issue to take on the Govt and therefore they are resorting to making these false allegations," he adds. 

31/10/2023 13:55:34

iPhone Hacking Alert Live — Detecting Attacks Often Imperfect, Incomplete: Apple

"Can't attribute threat notifications to any specific state-sponsored attacker," Apple says in a statement.

"Attackers well-funded, sophisticated; detecting attacks often imperfect and incomplete," says the iPhone maker. 

31/10/2023 13:45:23

iPhone Hacking Alert Live — Can't Provide Information On What Prompts Threat, Says Apple

Apple says it can't provide information on what prompts threat alerts as it may help state-sponsored attackers to evade detection. 

31/10/2023 13:39:25

iPhone Hacking Alert Live: It's For Apple To Clarify Allegations, Says BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party, which is facing the heat over allegations of hacking attempts of several Opposition MPs dismissed the allegations as "baseless" saying its for the Apple to come up with a clarification.  

31/10/2023 13:34:07

Apple iPhone Hacking Alert Live — 'There Is No Place For This In Democracy: Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav says he also got the alert from Apple. "This is a sad thing...I got this message in the morning which says that your device is being hacked or surveillance is being done by the 'state-sponsored agency... Why is surveillance being done? There is no place for this in democracy. The investigation should be done for this," says the SP supremo.  

31/10/2023 13:30:43

Apple iPhone Hacking Alert Live: Their Might Can't Silence Our Voices, Says Priyanka Chaturvedi

"Their might can’t silence our voice. Will keep holding the government to account. With or without this unethical and illegal state sponsored attempts at hacking," says Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi. 

31/10/2023 13:25:32

Apple iPhone Hacking Alert Live — Priyanka Chaturvedi Writes To Modi, Shah Urging Probe Into 'State-Sponsored Attack'

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi writes a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah urging to order a probe into the alert received by Apple over hacking attempts. 

 

31/10/2023 13:20:49

Apple iPhone Hacking Alert Live: Writing To LS Speaker To Summon MHA Officials, Says Mahua Moitra

TMC MP Mahua Moitra says she will be writing an official letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla over the issue of alleged snooping. 

"Writing officially to @loksabhaspeaker @ombirlakota requesting he follow RajDharma to protect Opposition MPs & summon  @HMOIndia officials ASAP on our phones/email being hacked. Priveleges Committee needs to take up. @AshwiniVaishnaw this is real breach you need to worry about," she says in a post on X.