India, Russia concerned over uses of ICT against UN Charter

22 10 2013

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In an apparent reference to the US National Security Agency’s worldwide mass surveillance operations, India and Russia on Monday expressed concern at the use of information and communication technologies for purposes that are “inconsistent with the UN Charter”.

The two countries stressed the need to abide by the principle of non-interference in internal affairs and to respect internet-related human rights, including the right to privacy, in accordance with domestic laws. “The sides expressed concern at the growing threat of the use of information and communication technologies for criminal and terrorist purposes, as well as for purposes that are inconsistent with the UN Charter,” said a joint statement issued after a summit meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Though the statement did not specifically refer to the NSA’s controversial mass surveillance of phone calls, emails and text messages, both India and Russia were targeted by the US spy agency. Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden was granted temporary asylum by Russia after he leaked sensitive data on the surveillance programme. The joint statement said India and Russia decided to accelerate consideration of the proposed inter-governmental agreement on cooperation in international information security. They “noted the need for adoption by the international community of the universal rules, norms and principles of responsible behaviour of states in the use of information and communication technologies”. The two sides also agreed to deepen bilateral consultations and cooperation on global issues related to the use of such technologies. China, Russia, Pakistan and Afghanistan were ranked highly on the NSA’s list of spying priorities. Russia had reacted angrily after documents leaked by Snowden revealed that its diplomats had been spied on during the G-20 summit in London in 2009. The NSA had also conducted electronic surveillance of the Indian Embassy in Washington and the country’s Permanent Representative to the UN.