Govt. formulates new IT Act

By agencies   |   Thursday, 21 April 2005, 19:30 IST
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NEW DELHI: Stung with recent incidents that almost tarnished IndiaÂ’s image as a BPO and outsourcing destination abroad, the Government is contemplating amending the IT Act of 2000 by bringing in emerging cyber crimes under its ambit. The government will also include handheld, computing and communication devices that could be used to commit crimes or frauds thus preventing criminals from taking advantage of loopholes in the law and escape. Many criminals escaped from law citing loopholes in the previous law. The government was forced to look at amending the cyber laws after a few recent controversies like DPS MMS scandal and the subsequent sale of the CD on a portal and swindling of money of Citibank customers by Indian call center agents in Pune. Other changes to be incorporated will include new technologies to prove who you claim to be when online. Many more authentication technologies, like biometrics where you use fingerprints to prove your identity, will be recognized. Currently, only digital signatures are accepted. Current laws that recognize only digital signatures are being seen as quite restricting. The Government is thinking to allow other forms of electronic signatures. The ministry of information technology has readied a proposal to make the policy more relevant to the changing face of technology.