Govt urged to back National Cyber Law varsity

Chennai:
As the virtual world becomes a part and parcel of common man, cyber experts stressed the need for a dedicated National Cyber Law University that should be backed by the Union government to spread awareness on cyber laws.

“It should not be an initiative in the private level, there is a need for government support to reach out to the masses,” said cyber law expert Pavan Duggal during Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry conference on Internet/ Social Media Networks: Opportunities and challenges.

He said at a private level, he has been talking to various universities in India and abroad on structured online courses but then it should have the backing of government. Interestingly, Duggal’s plea for National Cyber Law University was also backed by additional deputy commissioner of police Dr M Sudhakar whop said it could help prove awareness among people who could come forward to report such crimes.

Duggal also stressed the need to amend Information Technology Act (ITA) to bring into ambit the social networking sites.

With social networking sites growing at a phenomenal pace, there is a need to amend the law, he said adding that the amendments to ITA in 2008 which came into existence in 2009 were oblivious of social media.

Duggal also stressed the need to regulate mobile phones. “By 2013, one out of three cases will have a mobile component,” he said, stressing that it is important to have adequate rules and regulations to cover mobile phones. Sudhakar also said all the crimes have one way or another a mobile phone link.

“A new paradigm shift is happening and the onus is on government to update laws in digital and mobile eco-system,’ Duggal added.

R Ramamurthy, convenor of corporate social responsibility panel, FICCI and former chairman of Cyber Society of India, stressed on the need for cyber insurance to protect businesses from Internet-based risks. Australian Consul General David Holly highlighted India-Australia partnership for for ‘CeBIT Australia 2012’. Dr Sandhya Shekhar, chief executive officer of IIT Madras Research Park and M Rafeeque Ahmed, chairman FICCI Tamil Nadu State Council also spoke on the occasion.