The Hindu : National : Panel for mechanism to police cyber space

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 13, 2007
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Panel for mechanism to police cyber space

New Delhi: Satellite images of India’s key defence installations posted on Internet by Google are a “grave security concern” and a mechanism is needed to police cyber space, a panel set up by the Home Ministry has said.

The Committee on Draft National Policy on Criminal Justice felt “little can be done” against such crimes under existing laws due to complex questions of jurisdiction, enforceability of sanctions and technology.

The panel, headed by N.R. Madhava Menon, former director of the National Law University, felt the use of cyber space in planning and executing terror activities amounted “to crime naturally.” In a report submitted to Home Minister Shivraj Patil, the panel observed that given the size and levels of transactions done on Internet, “it becomes imperative (that) the justice system, especially the criminal one, develop up-to-date tools and mechanisms to police cyber space.”

A standing committee of scientists should be set up to advice the Government on this issue, it said while noting that certain protected systems involving national security were exposed to increasing threats from criminals and terrorists. “In this context, criminal justice police needs to adopt some bold steps to protect our vital systems,”it said. — PTI

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