Panels led by Congress to examine WhatsApp issue
Dr. Shashi Tharoor, who heads the parliamentary standing committee on information technology, said the panel would share its concerns.
New Delhi: The WhatsApp spyware controversy is all set to reach the parliament. Leaders of two standing committees, headed by Congress leaders have decided to examine the WhatsApp snooping case and will seek details from top government officials, including the home secretary.
Describing the entire episode as worrisome, Congress leader, Anand Sharma, who chairs the parliamentary standing committing on home affairs, said the issue will be taken up at the panel’s next meeting on November 15. Mr. Sharma further added that the home secretary is to brief the committee on several issues in the next meeting and the committee will seek details from him on this issue too.
Dr. Shashi Tharoor, who heads the parliamentary standing committee on information technology, said the panel would share its concerns. He said he will consult other members by email on the matter. “In any case, cybersecurity is a major issue on our agenda and we are definitely going to take this up under that rubric. And we will be seeking clarifications from the government.”
He said as the WhatsApp NSO issue has emerged in the open and it is important to ensure that no other social media platform can be misused similarly, and the panel will seek to learn how the government can ensure that.