India 'concerned and surprised' on US spying reports

MEA official Syed Akbaruddin says violation of laws on private information of ordinary citizens will be unacceptable by government of India

India is planning to seek details from US over reports that it is the fifth most tracked country by American intelligence agencies even as the government said it is “concerned and surprised” by the act and it will not be “acceptable” if it finds out that Indian privacy laws have been violated.

“Data relating to private communications of Indian citizens may have been harvested … We are concerned and surprised about it. Between India and US we have a cyber security dialogue. We feel this is the appropriate forum to discuss such issues. We intend to seek information and details during the consultation between the interlocutors from both sides on this manner,” ministry of external affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said here today.

He also said that if India discovers that its laws relating to private information of ordinary citizens have been violated then it will be “unacceptable” by the government.

“We will find it to be unacceptable if Indian laws relating to privacy of information of ordinary Indian citizens have been violated. Surely we will, frankly, find it unacceptable. This is an evolving situation so let's not jump to conclusions,” he added.

The cyber security dialogue between India and the US is coordinated by both National Security Councils in India and US.

Last week reports in the international media appeared that the American intelligence agencies are tracking servers of nine internet biggies as part of their secret data mining programme.

Regarding the trial of the two Italian marines over alleged killing of two Indian fishermen and the visit of Italy's Deputy Foreign Minister Staffan de Mistura, the spokesperson said, he met external affairs minister Salman Khurshid and has urged an speedy trial of the marines.

“They had a discussion (late last night) and this was related to the desire of Italian government to have a speedy trial for the two marines … Judicial process has its own speed and it has its own manner of proceeding. Ultimately the outcome will be determined by a case which is so ingenuous. It is new to both India and Italy. We will try and work in a manner which is acceptable to both. The idea is to resolve the matter expeditiously because we do not want it to be a major issue between two countries which otherwise enjoys excellent relations.”

Akbaruddin also said that the Italian minister has apprised Khurshid of the Italian government’s view in the matter.