The cyber crime bill that would empower government to censor online content and punish the violators is finally going to become the law.
The Standing Committee of Senate on Information Technology and Telecommunication has today approved cyber crime bill (Electronic Crime Bill 2016) and announced punishments for the violators.
This bill already got the approval from National Assembly in April this year will now be sent to Senate for the final approval, before it becomes the law.
The punishments includes prison time and fines worth millions of rupees. Also the government gets the authority to take down objectionable content from the internet.
- People who post picture of anyone without permission or send indecent messages could be sent to jail for one year along with Rs 10 lac fine.
- Up to seven years imprisonment, Rs 10 million fine or both for hate speech, or trying to create disputes and spread hatred on the basis of religion or sectarianism.
- Anyone posting nude pictures of children could get seven years imprisonment and up to Rs 50 lac fine.
- Fake SIMs holders would also face three-year imprisonment and Rs 5 lac fine whereas tempering of stolen mobile phones was also declared crime with Rs 10 lac fine and three years into custody.
According to the bill, no action will be taken against the culprits without court’s permission and private data won’t be accessed unless there is a threat to national security.
This bill gives immunity to children under 10 years from all punishments and the legislation won’t be applicable on them.
Critics believe that this bill gives a large degree of authority to the government, so they can regulate and remove content from the Internet on a variety of grounds, many of which do not conform to international standards on freedom of expression.
