Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Law College: One Day Workshop On
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Law College: One Day Workshop On
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Law College: One Day Workshop On
Cyber Torts
Cyber Crimes
IT Act 2000
the Government agencies and further to amend the Indian Penal Code, the Indian
Evidence Act, 1872, the Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1891 and the Reserve Bank of India
Section 1 (2) along with Section 75, specifies that the Act is
applicable to any offense or contravention committed
outside India as well. If the conduct of person constituting
the offense involves a computer or a computerized system or
network located in India, then irrespective of his/her
nationality, the person is punishable under the Act.
Non-Applicability of the IT Act 2000
According to Section 1 (4) of the Information Technology Act,
2000, the Act is not applicable to the following documents:
• Execution of Negotiable Instrument under Negotiable
Instruments Act, 1881, except cheques.
• Execution of a Power of Attorney under the Powers of
Attorney Act, 1882.
• Creation of Trust under Indian Trust Act, 1882.
• Execution of a Will under the Indian Succession Act, 1925
including any other testamentary disposition
by whatever name called.
• Entering into a contract for the sale of conveyance of
immovable property or any interest in such property.
• Any such class of documents or transactions as may be
notified by the Central Government in the Gazette.
The IT Act 2000
The IT Act 2000 was mainly to ensure legal recognition
of e-commerce within India. Due to this most provisions
are mainly concerned with establishing digital
certification processes within the country. Cybercrime
as a term was not defined in the act.
It only delved with few instances of computer-related
crimes. These acts as defined in Chapter XI of the Act
are:
Section 43– Illegal access, the introduction of the virus, denial of
services, causing damage and manipulating computer accounts.
Section 65– Tampering, destroying and concealing computer
code.
Section 66– Acts of hacking leading to wrongful loss or damage.
Section 67– Acts related to publishing, transmission or causing
publication of obscene/ lascivious in nature.
The Information Technology (Amendment) Act,
2008
Some of the notable features of the ITAA are as follows:
Focussing on data privacy
Focussing on Information Security
Defining cyber café
Making digital signature technology neutral
Defining reasonable security practices to be followed by corporate
Redefining the role of intermediaries
Recognising the role of Indian Computer Emergency Response Team
Inclusion of some additional cyber crimes like child pornography and
cyber terrorism
authorizing an Inspector to investigate cyber offences (as against the
DSP earlier)
Limitations of the I.T. Law
The Internet operates in an environment which
allows infringements to take place with no
clear and convenient jurisdiction in which the
right- holder can file suits. The challenge to the
legal community posed by such an
environment is currently being dealt with at
the national and international level.