The National Assembly has passed the Cyber Crime Bill. After approval by the National Assembly, the bill is yet to be passed by the Senate.
It is very important for internet users to know about cybercrimes and their penalties.
- Unauthorized access to any person’s mobile phone, laptop, etc. Can lead to 3 months imprisonment or a fine of Rs 50,000 or both. Illegal copying of any person’s data is punishable by up to 6 months imprisonment or a fine of Rs. 1 lakh or both.
Harm to any person’s phone, laptop data can result in imprisonment for 2 years and a fine of Rs. 500,000 or both.
Forbidden access to critical data (such as a database of information necessary for national integrity) can result in up to 3 years in prison or a fine of up to 1 million, or both.
Proscribed copies of important data are punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment or a fine of Rs 5 million or both.
* Damage to important data can result in 7 years imprisonment, a fine of Rs 10 million or both.
Supporting and promoting crime and hate speech (racial or religious) is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of Rs 10 million or both.
- Cyber-terrorism: Anyone who damages or threatens to damage important data or spreads hate speech can face up to 14 years in prison or a 5 million fine, or both.
- Electronic counterfeiting carries a penalty of 3 years imprisonment or a fine of Rs. 250,000 or both.
* Computerized fraud can result in 2 years imprisonment or a fine of Rs 10 million or both.
- Making, obtaining or supplying a device used in any crime is punishable by up to 6 months imprisonment or a fine of Rs 50,000 or both.
- Unlawful use of any person’s identity can result in imprisonment for 3 years or a fine of Rs 5 million or both.
- Wrongful issuance of a SIM card is punishable by 3 years imprisonment or a fine of Rs 500,000 or both.
- Tampering with communication is punishable by up to 3 years in prison or a fine of 1 million or both.
- Illicit trespassing (such as in communion, etc.) is punishable by 2 years imprisonment with a fine of Rs 500,000 or both.
- Crimes against someone’s reputation: Disseminating false information against someone can result in 3 years imprisonment or a fine of Rs 1 million or both.
- Posting or showing a nude photo/video of someone can result in 7 years imprisonment or a fine of Rs 5 lakh or both.
- Writing or spreading infected code can result in up to 2 years in prison or a 1 million fine, or both.
- Online harassment, marketing or indecent conversation can result in up to 1 year in prison or a fine of up to Rs.
- Spamming is punishable by a fine of Rs 50,000 for the first time and up to 3 months imprisonment or a fine of Rs 1 million or both. Spoofing can result in 3 years imprisonment or a fine of Rs 5 lakh or both.