M A I N   N E W S

India takes up web snooping with US
Ashok Tuteja/TNS

New Delhi, June 13
India has taken up with Washington reports that India was the fifth most tracked country by the American intelligence using a secret data-mining programme to monitor worldwide Internet data and sought more details in the matter, official sources said today.

“The issue was mentioned to US Ambassador Nancy Powell by National Security Adviser Shivshanker Menon on Monday. We are interested to know more on what has actually transpired,” a source said.

The US has said it was still doing its own assessment to see what amount of damage had been done in terms of its own data and, therefore, was not yet in a position to say anything clearly.

The sources said once Washington gave India more information, New Delhi would evaluate the situation and examine what laws were violated.

The issue is also expected to figure at the fourth round of Indo-US Strategic Dialogue to be held on June 24 when External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and his American counterpart John Kerry will meet.

The dialogue covers a range of issues, including trade, countering terrorism, education, science and technology, and clean energy and health.

Asked if India’s controversial civil nuclear liability law too would be discussed, the sources asserted that there was no question of making any amendments to the legislation.

“Within the four corners of that law, we would be happy to give any clarification to American nuclear companies,” a source added.