In the Shadows of Mass Surveillance

Editorial

The recent revelations in the Parliament regarding the extensive surveillance of communications since 2017 have sent shockwaves through the nation. Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam’s confirmation of illegal wiretapping and digital espionage exposes a sophisticated system of mass surveillance that allegedly began when Pravind Jugnauth assumed the office of Prime Minister. According to preliminary audits conducted by US experts, a high-tech interception system known as PertSol was deployed to monitor phone calls, internet traffic, and social media communications. The intercepted data, including Facebook, TikTok, WhatsApp, Signal, and email exchanges, was reportedly stored, analyzed, and potentially exploited without judicial oversight or independent control. These revelations not only raise concerns about privacy violations but also cast serious doubts on the ethical and legal framework governing Mauritius’ intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

The root of the surveillance

The roots of this mass surveillance operation trace back to 2017, when the then-government, led by the Mouvement Socialiste Militant (MSM), procured an advanced surveillance system from the Israeli firm VERINT. This system enabled large-scale interception of telephone calls and internet traffic, granting the authorities unprecedented access to private communications. In 2022, another batch of surveillance equipment was reportedly acquired, further expanding the then government’s monitoring capabilities. According to reports, these devices were deployed across major telecom operators in Mauritius, allowing direct access for the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) and the National Security Services (NSS). Despite being installed on telecommunications infrastructure, these tools remained under the exclusive control of intelligence agencies, operating without transparent regulatory oversight. Such an extensive surveillance mechanism raises alarming questions about how this information was used and who had access to it.

What makes these revelations even more troubling is the timing of data destruction. As per the findings of international experts working with the Mauritius Police Force, a significant amount of intercepted information was wiped from government servers immediately after the 2019 general elections. This suspiciously timed data destruction has led to speculations about the true intent behind the surveillance. Was it purely for national security, or did it serve political interests? Were opposition figures, journalists, and activists targeted to influence elections or suppress dissent?

The lack of transparency surrounding the deletion of this data only deepens suspicions about the troubling intentions of those who initiated the surveillance system. If the surveillance program was genuinely designed to counter threats such as terrorism and cybercrime, why were the records erased at such a critical political juncture? The failure to provide clear answers to these questions erodes trust in state institutions and undermines the credibility of Mauritius as a democracy that upholds the rule of law.Read More… Become a Subscriber

Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 7 February 2025