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The Central Bureau of Investigation in association with Council of Europe organised a one-day conference on International Police Cooperation against cyber crime at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.
K.M.Chandrasekhar, Cabinet Secretary, has said, "We need to focus on specific areas to guarantee cyber security. We must share information to make sure that we are able to trace the evidence to its origin. We must be able to preserve and protect electronic evidence. We must exchange information on a regular basis on criminals and criminal acts. We must look at our laws and determine whether there could be international standards for such laws. We must be in a position to coordinate action all over the world to deal with crises, as and when they occur". Chandrasekhar said, while inaugurating a conference on International Police Cooperation against Cyber Crime at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on Thursday.
"In this direction, the government has amended the Indian Information Technology Act, 2000. We have provisions now to ensure that the IT Act could be technology neutral while promoting alternative technologies to authenticate electronic records; that body corporates handling sensitive data put in place procedures for their safety; that
punishment for cyber offences is rationalised in accordance with comparable measures under the Indian Penal Code; and that provisions exist for examination of electronic evidence in investigations relating to cyber misuse", he added.
He also stated, "There is a need for nation wide efforts to increase security education, awareness and skills. This is specially aimed at catering to the needs of critical sectors, law-enforcement agencies, judiciary and e-Governance project stake holders.''
Ashwini Kumar, Director, CBI, said in his speech that "cyber crimes are probably the most transnational of all crimes and thus pose multi-fold challenges to law enforcement. Limitations of territorial sovereignty and jurisdictional issues make it an easy and safe-crime.
Lack of adequate training of Law Enforcement Officers, Prosecutors and Judiciary is also an impediment in the investigation of cyber crimes".
He also added, "CBI and a number of states in India have set up Cyber Crime Investigation Cells. But a lot has to be done to make people report cyber crimes and even more to solve them. I can say, as a policeman, there can be no bigger worry than people not reporting a crime due to lack of faith in Law Enforcement Agency's capabilities. We are determined not to let this happen and rather make people repose their faith in our abilities.''
Focusing inevitability of International Cooperation for securing Cyber World for its citizens, Jainder Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Information Technology, in his valedictory address has stated that one needs to consider sharing of information about crime and profiling of criminal; common set of investigative power; application of investigative powers to Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) arrangements; and adequate and flexible MLA and extradition arrangements. He also
said that international training programmes should be developed and expertise should be shared between nations.
During deliberations on various issues in this conference, it was suggested that in order to ensure speedy cooperation between various countries, Interpol should prepare an online directory listing the legal requirements of various countries. It was also suggested that security awareness among the users has to be increased. There was also a suggestion to the effect that Information Technology Industry should share technical expertise with the Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs).
There was general consensus on improving and standardisation of documentation by LEA, on capacity building and training of LEA, prosecutors, forensic scientists and the judiciary.
The invitees included Dr Gulshan Rai, Director, Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), Alexander Seger, Head of Economic Crime Division, Directorate General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs, Council of Europe and representatives of the IT Industry.
The conference was attended by the representatives of State Police Organisations all over India; Internet and Cellular Service Providers like MTNL, Tata Communications, Vodafone Essar Ltd.; Content Providers like Microsoft, Times Internet Ltd., etc.; Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Directorate of Prosecution, CBI.
The representatives of Intelligence Bureau, Research and Analysis Wing, Narcotics Control Bureau, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Central Board of Direct Taxes, Enforcement Directorate, Central Board of Excise and Customs also attended the Conference.