Which Act is related to cybercrimes in India?
The Act related to cybercrimes in India is the:
Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act, 2000)
It deals with:
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Cybercrimes
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Electronic records and digital signatures
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Online security and data protection
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Offences such as hacking, identity theft, cyberstalking, and online fraud
It was amended in 2008 to strengthen provisions related to cyber offences.
The Act related to cybercrimes in India is the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act). It is the primary legislation that deals with cybercrime and electronic commerce in India. The IT Act covers offenses such as hacking, data theft, cyberterrorism, publishing obscene material in electronic form, and several other cyber offenses, with prescribed penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment, including life imprisonment for cyberterrorism. The Act was amended notably in 2008 to address various new forms of cybercrime. Additionally, certain provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) also apply to cybercrimes. Recent legal reforms have introduced new statutes for criminal law, but the IT Act remains the foundational law for cybercrime in India.
Key points include:
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The IT Act provides a legal framework for electronic records and digital signatures.
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It defines various cyber offenses under Section 65 to 74 with specific punishments.
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It established the Controller of Certifying Authorities and Cyber Appellate Tribunal (later merged).
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The 2008 amendment introduced additional offenses including cyber terrorism (Section 66F).
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The Indian Penal Code sections such as 379 (theft), 420 (cheating) are also applicable in cybercrime contexts.
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The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 complements the IT Act by protecting personal data privacy.
Thus, the Information Technology Act, 2000 is the central law governing cybercrimes in India.
