Cyber crime and recent development

 

CYBER CRIME AND RECENT DEVELOPMENT 

The term "cybercrime" is derived from the root "cyber" in the word "cybernetic," which comes from the Greek "kubernân," which meaning "to lead or govern." The "cyber" environment encompasses all types of digital activities, whether they are carried out through networks or across borders. This replaces the former phrase "computer crime" with "Internet crime," "all digital crime," and "crimes involving telecommunications networks." This more contemporary terminology encompasses a wide range of aspects, resulting in various ways based on the prevailing culture of the experts, making it look either reduced or enlarged, in various dimensions, dealing with new difficulties that reflect its diversity.

 LEGISLATIVE MEASURES FOR PREVENTION OF CYBER CRIMES:

Statutory Provisions Governing Cyber Defamation in India. The Indian Penal Code, 1860 The Indian Penal Code, 1860 contains provisions dealing with the menace of cyber defamation. (1) Section 499 of IPC. Defamation Whoever, by words either spoken or intended to be read, or by signs or by visible representations, makes or publishes any imputation concerning any person intending to harm, or knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm, the reputation of such person, is said to defame that person.

Section 469 of IPC, Forgery for purpose of harming reputation Whoever commits forgery, intending that the document or electronic document forged shall harm the reputation of any party, or knowing that it is likely to be used for that purpose, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.

The Information Technology Act, 2000 (ITAct- 2000) was enacted by Parliament of India to protect the field of e-commerce, e-governance, e-banking as well as to provide for penalties and punishments in the field of cyber crimes. The above Act was further amended by the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008 (ITAAct2008), The word 'communication devices' was inserted in the definition, to include into its coverage cell phones, personal digital assistance or such other devices used to transmit any text, video etc. 

The new amendment has replaced Section 43 by Section 66. The word "hacking" used in Section 66 of earlier Act of 2000 was removed and named as "data theft" and consequently widened in the form of Sections 66A to 66F. The section covers the offences such as the sending of offensive messages through communication service, misleading the recipient of the origin of such messages, dishonestly receiving stolen computers or other communication device, stealing electronic signature or identity such as using another person’s password or electronic signature, cheating by personation through computer resource

On August 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented a new cyber-security strategy to the nation, as dependence on the internet will increase many-fold in the coming years.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has launched a portal, the National Cybercrime Receiving Portal-www.cybercrime.gov.in, on August 30, 2019, to help people report all kinds of cyber crimes on a centralized platform. Victims of financial cyber fraud in Delhi can dial a helpline number 155260 or report any incident of financial cyber fraud on www.cybercrime.gov.in.