‘Snoopgate’: Opposition leaders allege phone hacking alerts from Apple

NEW DELHI: A controversy has erupted regarding phone hacking involving opposition leaders.
Several opposition leaders on Tuesday claimed they had received alerts from Apple, warning them about “state-sponsored attackers attempting to compromise their iPhones remotely.” They also shared purported screenshots of these messages on their social media accounts.
Notable leaders, including Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, Trinamool Congress‘ Mahua Moitra, Aam Aadmi Party’s Raghav Chadha, Congress’ Shashi Tharoor, and his party’s media and publicity department head Pawan Khera, as well as CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury, reportedly received similar messages.
As of now, Apple has not yet issued a response to the situation.
BJP response:
BJP leader Amit Malviya said in a post on X, “Usual suspects raising a storm over ‘state sponsored’ attack and pretending to be martyrs is all good… But this hullabaloo, in all probability, like in the past, will end up as damp squib!
“Why not wait for Apple to clarify? Or is it too much to let go an opportunity to outrage?”

Opposition leaders slam government
The opposition leaders put out posts on X hitting out at the government.
“Received text and email from Apple warning me that the government trying to hack into my phone and email. @HMOIndia — get a life. Adani and PMO bullies – your fear makes me pity you,” Trinamool Congress MP Moitra said while sharing some screenshots.

Tagging Chaturvedi, she claimed three other leaders of the opposition INDIA alliance have received similar messages.
Chaturvedi also shared a similar screenshot which she claimed to have received from Apple and said, “Wonder who? Shame on you. Cc: @HMOIndia for your kind attention”.
Replying to Moitra’s post, she said, “So not just me but also @MahuaMoitra has received this warning from Apple. Will @HMOIndia investigate?”

Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram Tharoor put out a similar post.
“Received from an Apple ID, HYPERLINK “mailto:threat-notifications@apple.com”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?” he said on X, tagging the Prime Minister’s Office, the Congress, party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.

Sharing the same screenshot, Khera said, “Dear Modi Sarkar, why are you doing this?”
AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha said in a long post that he had received a “concerning notification from Apple” warning him about a a potential state-sponsored spyware attack on his phone.
“I use my smartphone to perform my parliamentary duties — engage with members of my constituency, address requests and provide assistance. I also use it to question the dictatorial practices of the Central Government. It is also an instrument used by me to communicate with my party colleagues, workers and volunteers for elections. I use it to coordinate my media appearances too. It is also a device I use to discuss legal strategies with lawyers in several of my ongoing litigations,” he said.
Chadha called it an attack on the “democratic interests” of the country, and on the people of the country.
“Hence, not only my smartphone but the democratic interests of our country have come under attack. This notification is reminiscent of the Pegasus spyware scandal which also had targeted many voices that are critical of the BJP. Even in this attack, I am not the only opposition leader who has been attacked. Multiple voices of the opposition have been targeted,” he said.

The “snooping”, Chadha said, was happening merely months away from a general election and must be placed within the broader attacks on the opposition.
“…Every Indian needs to be worried. Because today it is me, tomorrow it could be YOU,” he added.
The message shared by the MPs stated, “ALERT: State-sponsored attackers may be targeting your iPhone”.
“Apple believes you are being targeted by state-sponsored attackers who are trying to remotely compromise the iPhone associated with your Apple ID. These attackers are likely targeting you individually because of who you are or what you do. If your device is compromised by a state-sponsored attacker, they may be able to remotely access your sensitive data, communications, or even the camera and microphone. While it’s possible this is a false alarm, please take this warning seriously,” it stated.
(With inputs from PTI)