India concerned over reports of US surveillance

New Delhi (IANS): India said Tuesday it would be "unacceptable" if it is discovered that Indian laws on privacy have been violated by the surveillance launched on web users worldwide by the US National Security Agency (NSA). "If it is discovered that Indian laws relating to privacy of information of ordinary Indian citizens have been violated we would find it unacceptable," external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said at a media briefing in answer to a query. His reaction came following revelations that the National Security Agency (NSA) has been spying on emails, social network activity, listening in on internet calls around the world since 2007. A former CIA agent revealed to the Washington Post and the Guardian newspapers that the US agency has been using tech giants Microsoft, Google, Apple, Yahoo, Facebook, Skype and YouTube to spy on private information of users around the world. The programme, codenamed "PRISM" has been in operation since 2007. The programme is aimed to monitor foreign communications that take place on US servers. Akbaruddin also said that India is "concerned and surprised" by revelations that the US intelligence agency may be tapping information secretly. He said that India and the US have a cyber security dialogue that is helmed by the National Security Advisers from both sides. "We intend to seek information and details during the consultations between the interlocutors", he said, and added that it is an evolving situation and India would see how the matter unfolds rather than jump to conclusions. Former CIA technical worker Edward Snowden has been identified by the Guardian newspaper as the person who leaked information about US surveillance programmes.