Apple Alerts Opposition Leaders of 'State-Sponsored Attack': Who's on the List?
TheQuintOct 31, 2023
The Facts
Several Indian opposition lawmakers on Tuesday claimed to have received an alert message from Apple Inc., warning the Members of Parliament that their iPhones were being targeted by "state-sponsored attackers."
The iPhone manufacturer's alert reportedly warned that state-sponsored attackers may be trying to compromise their device and remotely access their sensitive data, camera, and microphone.
The Spin
Narrative A
If "La Affair Pegasus 2021" is anything to go by, the Modi government's urge to spy on its critics is self-evident. The Indian state hasn't been exactly forthcoming on its spyware deals either, despite the massive negative reactions. If the many upcoming state elections and next year's national polls are taken as context, then the matter becomes one of the legitimacies of Indian democracy itself.
Narrative B
India's opposition must stop carping about surveillance every time it runs out of issues to attack the government with. If Apple has warned lawmakers about a hacking attempt, then the company must explain the matter and not the government. The opposition must slow down and cooperate with the probe instead of distracting public attention from the country's progress.
Nerd narrative
There's a 75% chance that the BJP will form the government after the next Indian general election in 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.