'Large Scale Surveillance': Oppn MPs Slam Centre Over Apple's 'State-Sponsored' Attack Alert

Several MPs from the Opposition parties have flagged that they have received an alert by Apple against attempts being made by "state-sponsored attackers" on their iPhones.

Mahua Moitra, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Shashi Tharoor, Asaduddin Owais said they received an alert on their iPhone by Apple against "state-sponsored attackers"

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Tuesday slammed the Centre over allegations of 'state-sponsored surveillance" on several leaders of the Opposition through their mobile phones. Some MPs of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc have flagged an alert they received from Apple stating that "state-sponsored attackers may be targeting" their iPhones. 

Reacting to the development, Chaturvedi said, "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. 

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, who is currently facing the heat in cash-for-query case, on Tuesday raised the issue saying, "Received text & email from Apple warning me Govt trying to hack into my phone & email. "

Received text & email from Apple warning me Govt trying to hack into my phone & email. @HMOIndia - get a life. Adani & PMO bullies - your fear makes me pity you. @priyankac19 - you, I , & 3 other INDIAns have got it so far . pic.twitter.com/2dPgv14xC0

— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) October 31, 2023

Wonder who? Shame on you.
Cc: @HMOIndia for your kind attention pic.twitter.com/COUJyisRDk

— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) October 30, 2023

Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and Pawan Khera also said that they received similar alerts stating: "State-sponsored attackers may be targeting your iPhone." 

Received from an Apple ID, threat-notifications@apple.com, which I have verified. Authenticity confirmed. Glad to keep underemployed officials busy at the expenses of taxpayers like me! Nothing more important to do?@PMOIndia @INCIndia @kharge @RahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/5zyuoFmaIa

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 31, 2023

Received an Apple Threat Notification last night that attackers may be targeting my phone

ḳhuub parda hai ki chilman se lage baiThe haiñ
saaf chhupte bhī nahīñ sāmne aate bhī nahīñ pic.twitter.com/u2PDYcqNj6

— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) October 31, 2023

All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Aam Aadmi Party Rafhav Chadha also shared the some message on their X handles.