The Indian National Cyber Security Forum (INCSF) in its first formal
meeting on 6th December 2008 at Bangalore advocated that what India now
needs as a counter cyber terrorism response in terms of legal structure
reform is an Indian PATRIOT act and a mere addition of a "Cyber Terrorism"
clause in ITA 2000 amendments is not sufficient. I would like to elaborate
on the reasons why this suggestion is being made by INCSF.... Naavi
(This is the second article on USPATRIOT Act which stands for
"Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required
to Intercept and obstruct Terrorism")
Some Key Provisions of USPATRIOT Act:..contd
Section 105 of the USPATRIOT Act addresses the issue of building
collaboration between different Cyber Crime investigation agencies.
It states "The Director of the United States Secret Service shall
take appropriate actions to develop a national network of electronic crime
task forces, based on the New York Electronic Crimes Task Force model,
throughout the United States, for the purpose of preventing, detecting, and
investigating various forms of electronic crimes, including potential
terrorist attacks against critical infrastructure and financial payment
systems."
This sort of creating a federal structure for Cyber Crime prevention in
India by networking different Cyber Crime Police cells in India is an
important requirement we need to address. After the Mumbai events, this
aspect is being talked about. At the same time the Police reforms are also
under consideration.
Even before the formal setting up of a federal anti terror police set up
comes up, there is a need for an informal collaboration of the Cyber Crime
cells in different States. Several years back, Naavi had tried to organize
a structure for collaboration of the Cyber Crime Police in southern states
with monthly meetings hosted by different units in rotation. Though Chennai
and Bangalore Cyber Crime Police stations were supportive of the idea, it
was not actioned.
Now a time has come for the Police units as well as their political bosses
to make the right moves for such Inter-State Cyber Crime Police
co-operation network.
We know that what holds back such a development which no body will oppose
is the lack of political will. In India there are two political parties BJP
and the Congress which control most of the States. If these two parties
decide, it is not difficult to establish a network for cooperation with or
without a formal USIPATRIOT Act. (Uniting and
Strengthening India by providing Appropriate Tools Required to
Intercept and Obstruct terrorism).
As a Netizen initiative, INCSF urges at least one of the parties who is
more concerned on this issue to make the first move and call for the first
"Inter State Cyber Crime Police Meet" to discuss and implement a mechanism
for sharing resources and information.
Will it be the Congress Party that moves first? or Will it be the BJP?
Netizens are waiting for either one or both to move forward in this
direction.
In the meantime, the GOI should start initiatives for drafting the
USIPATRIOT Act.
(To Be continued)
