Session
Organizer 1: Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Organizer 2: Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Organizer 3: Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Organizer 4: Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Organizer 5: Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Organizer 2: Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Organizer 3: Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Organizer 4: Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Organizer 5: Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 1: Natalia Krapiva, Civil Society, Eastern European Group
Speaker 2: Abed Kataya, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 3: Prasanth Sugathan, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 4: Mais A. M Qandeel, Technical Community, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 5: Padraig Hughes, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 2: Abed Kataya, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 3: Prasanth Sugathan, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 4: Mais A. M Qandeel, Technical Community, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 5: Padraig Hughes, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Format
Theater
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: We chose a 90-minute duration for this panel discussion to ensure a comprehensive exploration of state surveillance, issues and concerns surrounding Pegasus spyware, and legal accountability. This timeframe allows for Diverse Perspectives (40-50 minutes), where panelists from legal, policy, journalism, and human rights backgrounds will present their insights. The discussion shall be followed with an Interactive Q&A (20-30 minutes) where the audience will engage in critical debate and discussion, and the panelists will address specific concerns from lawyers, policymakers, and civil society members. The panel will conclude with Takeaways (10-15 minutes): Summarizing key policy recommendations and will set the stage for a policy brief and future advocacy efforts.
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: We chose a 90-minute duration for this panel discussion to ensure a comprehensive exploration of state surveillance, issues and concerns surrounding Pegasus spyware, and legal accountability. This timeframe allows for Diverse Perspectives (40-50 minutes), where panelists from legal, policy, journalism, and human rights backgrounds will present their insights. The discussion shall be followed with an Interactive Q&A (20-30 minutes) where the audience will engage in critical debate and discussion, and the panelists will address specific concerns from lawyers, policymakers, and civil society members. The panel will conclude with Takeaways (10-15 minutes): Summarizing key policy recommendations and will set the stage for a policy brief and future advocacy efforts.
Policy Question(s)
A. How does the indictment of NSO Group in the United States influence international legal standards, and what lessons can lawyers, researchers, journalists, and policymakers in India and other Global South countries learn from it?
B. What immediate policy interventions are needed to strengthen privacy laws, prevent mass surveillance, and hold spyware manufacturers accountable for human rights violations?
C. How can strategic litigation and policy advocacy be leveraged to challenge unauthorised and unlawful surveillance, ensure transparency, and hold governments and private entities accountable?
What will participants gain from attending this session? This discussion will help participants in understanding the state-sponsored surveillance, spyware regulation, and legal accountability, with focus on India, Middle East and the United States. Experts will unpack the implications of indictment of NSO Group, offering insights into how it influences legal challenges and policy debates across jurisdictions.
Participants will explore the history surveillance and legal frameworks governing surveillance in India and the Middle East, the urgent need for regulatory reforms, and the impact on fundamental rights, including press freedom and privacy. The discussion will also highlight strategic litigation and policy advocacy as tools to challenge unlawful surveillance and promote transparency and accountability and pending lawsuits against state-mandated surveillance.
By engaging with lawyers, policymakers, and digital rights defenders, attendees will gain practical knowledge on litigation strategies, policy interventions, and international best practices to safeguard digital rights and uphold democratic freedoms.
Description:
The Citizen Lab’s report in 2018, titled Hide and Seek, sent shockwaves across the globe when it revealed that Pegasus spyware, sold by Israel-based NSO Group, had been deployed in nearly 45 countries. The report raised serious concerns about human and digital rights. In 2019, WhatsApp sued the NSO Group, alleging that its spyware had been used to infect approximately 1,400 mobile devices with malware. In India, The Wire’s investigative reports further exposed how Pegasus was used by the government for unauthorized surveillance. Similar instances of hacking and surveillance were reported from Middle East. These revelations showed that opposition leaders, journalists, lawyers, human rights activists, and even judges—particularly those critical of government policies—were targeted. The exposure of such surveillance operations sparked widespread concerns about human rights violations, unchecked state surveillance, and the absence of procedural safeguards. While the U.S. District Court of North Carolina’s indictment of NSO marks a significant step in holding spyware firms accountable and could serve as a deterrent against unauthorized surveillance, legal challenges in India remain unresolved before the Supreme Court, with the government neither confirming nor denying its purchase or use of Pegasus. As concerns over spyware abuse continue to grow worldwide, particularly in the Global South, this session will bring together lawyers, policy experts, human rights defenders, and policymakers to examine: The impact of the U.S. indictment of NSO Group on global surveillance policies and its influence on legal challenges across jurisdictions. The legal framework governing state-sponsored surveillance and the pressing need for regulatory reforms to safeguard fundamental rights. The significance of strategic litigation and policy advocacy in combating unlawful surveillance and promoting transparency and accountability. This discussion presents a crucial opportunity to explore strategies for litigation, legal accountability, and policy interventions to address state-sponsored surveillance and safeguard digital rights globally.
The Citizen Lab’s report in 2018, titled Hide and Seek, sent shockwaves across the globe when it revealed that Pegasus spyware, sold by Israel-based NSO Group, had been deployed in nearly 45 countries. The report raised serious concerns about human and digital rights. In 2019, WhatsApp sued the NSO Group, alleging that its spyware had been used to infect approximately 1,400 mobile devices with malware. In India, The Wire’s investigative reports further exposed how Pegasus was used by the government for unauthorized surveillance. Similar instances of hacking and surveillance were reported from Middle East. These revelations showed that opposition leaders, journalists, lawyers, human rights activists, and even judges—particularly those critical of government policies—were targeted. The exposure of such surveillance operations sparked widespread concerns about human rights violations, unchecked state surveillance, and the absence of procedural safeguards. While the U.S. District Court of North Carolina’s indictment of NSO marks a significant step in holding spyware firms accountable and could serve as a deterrent against unauthorized surveillance, legal challenges in India remain unresolved before the Supreme Court, with the government neither confirming nor denying its purchase or use of Pegasus. As concerns over spyware abuse continue to grow worldwide, particularly in the Global South, this session will bring together lawyers, policy experts, human rights defenders, and policymakers to examine: The impact of the U.S. indictment of NSO Group on global surveillance policies and its influence on legal challenges across jurisdictions. The legal framework governing state-sponsored surveillance and the pressing need for regulatory reforms to safeguard fundamental rights. The significance of strategic litigation and policy advocacy in combating unlawful surveillance and promoting transparency and accountability. This discussion presents a crucial opportunity to explore strategies for litigation, legal accountability, and policy interventions to address state-sponsored surveillance and safeguard digital rights globally.
Expected Outcomes
We intend to write a policy brief that will capture the key discussions, challenges, and major insights shared by experts. The document will shed light on legal gaps, regulatory challenges, and human rights concerns surrounding state-sponsored surveillance and spyware like Pegasus, Paragon, etc. It will also outline strategic recommendations on judicial oversight, policy reforms, and accountability mechanisms to safeguard digital and human rights. By summarizing expert perspectives and proposed solutions, the policy brief will serve as a resource for policymakers, legal practitioners, and civil society organizations advocating for stronger surveillance regulations and protections for privacy and press freedom globally.
Hybrid Format: To facilitate hassle free interaction between in person and online speakers and attendees, we will use a hybrid event platform (such as Zoom or an alternative) with high-quality audiovisual integration.
We will make sure that the panelists present in person have dedicated microphones and cameras, ensuring clear visibility and audio for online participants. Virtual speakers will be displayed on large screens, and a dedicated moderator will manage speaker transitions and audience engagement.
To enhance participation, we will use interactive tools such as Slido or Mentimeter for real-time polls, Q&A, and audience feedback. Online attendees can submit questions via chat, and a facilitator will relay them to panelists. Breakout rooms may be used for smaller discussions post-panel.
Our aim is to create a fully interactive and inclusive experience, where both onsite and online participants can engage equally, ensuring meaningful dialogue.