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8.9 Indian Information Technology Act (IT Act) 2000
The advent of the Internet has significantly changed our lives. People from all walks of life are increasingly using
computers to create, communicate, and store information in electronic form rather than traditional paper and
document formats. Electronically stored information offers numerous advantages, including cost savings, ease of
storage and retrieval, and connection speed. Despite its many benefits, it has been abused by many people for financial
gain or to damage someone's data or reputation. So, governments have taken precautions and enacted legislation
governing the use of the Internet. The Indian Parliament passed the Information Technology Act 2000 to keep pace
with information technology-related crime. The Information Technology Act of 2000 was based on the Model Law of
the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). It aimed at providing a legal infrastructure
for e-commerce in India. The act also included a provision for digital signatures as a means of authenticating digital
documents. It incorporated offences and penalties for cybercrime. The main goal of this act is to make sure that digital,
online, and electronic transactions are legal and safe and to stop or get rid of cybercrime. There are 13 chapters and 90
sections in the IT Act. Some of the offences and punishments that fall under the IT Act, 2000, are as follows:
Section Offence Penalty
Tampering with the computer source Imprisonment up to three years, or/and
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documents with a fine up to `2,00,000
Imprisonment up to three years, or/and
66 Hacking with computer system
with a fine up to `5,00,000
Publishing of information which is obscene Imprisonment up to five years, or/and
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in electronic form with a fine up to `10,00,000
Imprisonment up to two years, or/and
68 Power of Controller to give directions
with a fine up to `1,00,000
Directions of Controller to a subscriber to Imprisonment up to seven years, or/and
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extend facilities to decrypt information shall be liable to fine.
Securing access or attempting to secure Imprisonment up to ten years, or/and
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access to a protected system with fine
Imprisonment up to 2 years, or/and
71 Misrepresentation
with a fine up to `1,00,000
Imprisonment up to 2 years, or/and
72 Breach of confidentiality and privacy
with a fine up to `1,00,000
Publishing Digital Signature Certificate false Imprisonment up to 2 years, or/and
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in certain particulars with a fine up to `1,00,000
Imprisonment up to 2 years, or/and
74 Publication for fraudulent purpose
with a fine up to `1,00,000
8.9.1 Privacy Law
Privacy is the ability of an organisation or individual to determine what data can be shared with third parties. Privacy
law establishes the rules that regulate the collection, storage, and disclosure of a person's or organisation's financial,
medical, and other personal information to third parties.
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