TAG: GS 2: POLITY
THE CONTEXT: The Indian government has taken a significant step towards combating cybercrime by designating the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) as an agency of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
EXPLANATION:
- It will notify law enforcement agencies about unlawful activities in cyberspace, as per the provisions of the Information Technology Act-2000.
Establishment of I4C:
- The I4C was established by the Ministry of Home Affairs with the primary objective of providing a structured framework and ecosystem for law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to address cybercrime in a coordinated and comprehensive manner.
- Its creation reflects the government’s recognition of the growing challenges posed by cyber threats and the need for a centralized mechanism to combat them effectively.
Legal Basis:
- The designation of I4C as the agency of the MHA for notifying unlawful activities in cyberspace is based on the powers conferred by clause (b) of sub-section (3) of section 79 of the Information Technology Act 2000.
- This legal provision empowers the Central Government to designate an agency for performing specific functions under the Act.
Official Notification:
- An official notification issued by the Central Government outlines the designation of I4C as follows:
- “In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (b) of sub-section (3) of section 79 of the Information Technology Act 2000, Central Government being the appropriate government hereby designates the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), to be the agency of the Ministry of Home Affairs to perform the functions under clause (b) of sub-section (3) of section 79 of Information Technology Act, 2000 and to notify the instances of information, data or communication link residing in or connected to a computer resource controlled by the intermediary being used to commit the unlawful act.”
Implications:
- This designation empowers I4C to notify law enforcement agencies about instances of information, data, or communication links residing in or connected to a computer resource controlled by intermediaries and being used to commit unlawful acts in the cyber world.
- By centralizing this function under I4C, the government aims to enhance coordination and information sharing among LEAs, thereby strengthening efforts to combat cybercrime effectively.