[Answered] In India, cybercrime is increasing with the increased use of information and communication technology (ICT). Comment on the shortcomings in the infrastructure to tackle cybercrimes in India.

India already is the 2^nd largest online market worldwide. Although the advancement of technology and the internet has brought with it all related benefits but has also led to an increase in the cybercrime affecting people globally. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), from 12,317 cases of cybercrime in 2016, there were 50,035 cases registered in 2020.

Shortcomings in the infrastructure to tackle cybercrimes:

• No procedural code for the investigation of cyber or computer-related offences.
• There have been half hearted efforts by the States to recruit technical staff for tackling the cyber-crimes. It is only a technically qualified staff who could acquire and analyse digital evidence.
• Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 insists that offences registered under the Act should be investigated by a police officer not below the rank of an inspector. Police inspectors are limited in number in districts, and most of the field investigation is done by sub-inspectors.
• Offences related to cryptocurrency remain under-reported as the capacity to solve such crimes remains limited due to poor upgradation of laboratories.
• Most cybercrimes are trans-national in nature with extra-territorial jurisdiction. E.g. the police still get CyberTipline reports on online Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) from the U.S.’s non-profit agency, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).
• Most equipment and technology systems are vulnerable to cyber threats just like any other connected system. Although the government has set up National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC), it is yet to identify and implement measures to protect critical information infrastructure.

Way Forward

• Setting up a separate cyber-police station in each district or range, or having technically qualified staff in every police station.
• There is an urgent need to build capabilities and capacity for application, equipment and infrastructure testing.
• ‘Data localisation’ must feature in the proposed Personal Data Protection law so that enforcement agencies are able to get timely access to the data of suspected Indian citizens.