The Information Technology Act, 2000

To cope up with the increasing numbers of crimes over the Internet, the Government of India has enforced The Information Technology Act, 2000 with an objective to make a secure space for commercial use of Information technology. The Information Technology Act, 2000 also specifies the acts and actions that are made punishable as per Indian law. Additionally, The Indian Panel Code has also been amended to ensure the compliance as per IT Act, 2000. As a primary law specifically meant for Cyber Crimes and electronic commerce, The Information Technology Act 2000, notified on 17 October 2000, states as 

"An Act to provide legal recognition for transactions carried out by means of electronic data interchange and other means of electronic communication, commonly referred to as "electronic commerce", which involve the use of alternatives to paper-based methods of communication and storage of information, to facilitate electronic filing of documents with the Government agencies and further to amend the Indian Penal Code, the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, the Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1891 and the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto."  

Following is the list of Internet-based acts that are considered as punishable under the IT Act and the IPC:

1. Cyber Crimes under the IT Act :

• Sec.65: Tampering with Computer Source Documents
• Sec.66: Data Alteration, Hacking with Computer Systems
• Sec.67: Publishing Obscene Information
• Sec.70: Unauthorized Access in Protected System
• Sec.72: Violation of Privacy and Confidentiality
• Sec.73: Publishing False Digital Signature Certificates

2. Cyber Crimes under IPC :

• Sec 503 IPC: Sending Threatening Messages by email
• Sec 499 IPC: Sending Defamatory Messages by email
• Sec 463 IPC: Counterfeiting of electronic records
• Sec 420 IPC: Bogus Websites, Cyber Frauds
• Sec 463 IPC: Email spoofing
• Sec. 383 IPC: Web-Jacking
• Sec. 500 IPC: E-Mail Abuse

3. Cyber Crimes under the Special Acts:

• Online sale of Drugs under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act
• Online sale of Arms Act