India has reportedly acquired Israeli phone‑hacking technology in a manner that bypasses its own regulatory framework, expanding an already extensive surveillance apparatus that includes cloning mobile phones and accessing cloud‑based data held by major technology companies.
The procurement, described by sources as a direct purchase from an Israeli firm, allegedly sidestepped internal approval processes that normally govern the acquisition of surveillance tools. Officials have not disclosed the specific name of the technology or the contract details.
India’s surveillance capabilities, according to the report, now extend beyond traditional phone cloning to the ability to tap into cloud services used by global tech giants. This enables the collection of user data stored on remote servers, broadening the scope of intelligence gathering.
The decision to circumvent established rules has prompted questions about compliance with domestic legal standards and the oversight mechanisms that regulate such acquisitions. Critics argue that bypassing procedures could undermine transparency and accountability in the use of intrusive surveillance tools.
India, the world’s most populous democracy, has increasingly invested in advanced monitoring technologies as part of its national security strategy. The latest move underscores a growing emphasis on digital intelligence, reflecting broader global trends in state surveillance.
<small>Source: Al Jazeera — read the original story there.</small>