That cyber espionage is conducted by nations to undermine the defences of other countries is well known, but even so Julian Assange’s claims of China’s penetration of Indian networks are shocking. WikiLeaks’ controversial founder says the Chinese are “sucking out” information from the CBI’s computers: if true, the implications are enormous and horrifying.
If the secrets of India’s premier domestic investigative agency are available to Beijing, it would be almost certain that the Chinese interest goes beyond just the CBI. Mr Assange paints a picture of “bulk surveillance” of entire nations as well as individuals; states could be snooping on their own citizens.
An obsession with security, sometimes bordering on paranoia, and rapidly changing technology have created a situation in which spying, whether on individuals or institutions, has become almost routine. There are reports of how intelligence agencies can now tap phone conversations without relying on help from telecom companies. This gives immense powers to governments, even in democracies, which could be misused.
The issue of cyberwarfare by governments has been debated for some time. There is speculation that the notorious Stuxnet worm, which paralysed Iran’s nuclear establishment, was created and released by governments hostile to it. Nor is spying the only fear. A determined rogue nation could go even beyond mere hacking and paralyse a country’s networks, bringing its transportation, electricity and financial systems to a halt, creating chaos. Indeed, some nations are already deliberating about the need to create an overarching, multilateral convention on what is an act of war in the era of cyber-technology.
The main concern in peacetime is spying. While espionage is a fact of life and every country conducts it, cyber-capabilities and the emergence of powerful new technologies can add a particular edge to malicious intent. New Delhi would do well to take Mr Assange’s statements seriously. Even if there is a remote possibility that the secrets of the CBI, and perhaps other outfits, have been compromised, this should be investigated and loopholes, if any, plugged right away.
The government should seriously examine the entire question of cyber-espionage and come out with a white paper on it. India’s strengths, weaknesses and challenges must be spelt out, and the country given an assurance that the government is dealing with the matter with the seriousness it deserves. Espionage by China or any other country is not an esoteric subject only for experts to bother about; it affects each and every citizen in direct and indirect ways. India has enormous capabilities in the technological field; these must be leveraged and deployed to create solid defences and, if necessary, cyber counterattack strategies devised. A whole new paradigm is emerging: India must be fully prepared for the challenges it will bring.