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CYBER LAWS IN INDIA: A BRIEF

By – Mokshda Sharma

Student, X Semester, B.B.A.LL.B (Hons.), Department of Law, Prestige Institute of Management and Research, Indore

 

Cyber law also known as the IT Law, is a term used to describe the legal issues related to use of “cyberspace”, i.e. the Internet. Cyberspace is basically defined as the electronic or virtual space that connects the different computer systems to each other. The electronic exchange of information, e-commerce, software, and information security is also covered under the umbrella of Cyber Law.

In India we have the Information Technology Act, 2000 which regulates the cyberspace and prevent cybercrimes against the citizens of India. This Act provides various penalties against those who have committed cybercrime as well as compensation to the person who was a fell prey to such crime. This Act overall deals with the e-commerce transactions. Giving recognition and validity to electronic records and signatures are key features of IT Act.

There have been a few amendments in the Act with the coming years and improved technology. In the year 2018 the Act included punishment for sending offensive messages and which hindered with the integrity of our country, through internet. Offensive messages includes immoral messages, images videos, pornography, etc. In 2021, the Act mentioned guidelines for the intermediaries and ethical code for digital media which required the intermediaries to share the information and details of any user whom they find suspicious and could harm the security and integrity of the country.

The most recent Act which was enacted on the 11^th of August, 2023 for the protection of privacy of the citizens of our country is the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. This Act involves the processing of personal data on digital platforms which falls within the territory of India. Such data is collected online or offline and is later digitized. The Act is also applicable to the processing of digital personal data outside the territory of India, only when it involves providing of goods or services to the data principals within the territory of India. This Act is India’s first ever privacy Act.

The newer and innovative technologies that are being introduced in the world do make our day-to-day life easier but they also make us prone to various cybercrimes. And hence, it becomes important to have a law which governs such crimes and protects us from falling a prey to these crimes.