I4C Foundation Day Celebration: Shri Amit Shah Launches Key Initiatives to Tackle Cybercrime
Introduction
Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) was established by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to provide a framework for law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to deal with cybercrime in a coordinated and comprehensive manner. The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs approved a scheme for the establishment of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) in October 2018. I4C is actively working towards initiatives to combat the emerging threats in cyberspace and it has become a strong pillar of India’s cyber security and cybercrime prevention. The ‘National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal’ equipped with a 24x7 helpline number 1930, is one of the key components of the I4C.
On 10 September 2024, I4Ccelebrated its foundation day for the first time at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. This celebration marked a major milestone in India’s efforts against cybercrimes and in enhancing its cybersecurity infrastructure. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, launched key initiatives aimed at strengthening the country’s cybersecurity landscape.
Launch of Key Initiatives to Strengthen Cybersecurity
- Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC): As a product of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision, the Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC), was incorporated to bring together banks, financial institutions, telecom companies, Internet Service Providers, and law enforcement agencies on a single platform to tackle online financial crimes efficiently. This integrated approach is expected to minimise the time required to streamline operations and to track and neutralise cyber fraud.
- Cyber Commando: The Cyber Commandos Program is an initiative in which a specialised wing of trained Cyber Commandos will be established in states, Union Territories, and Central Police Organizations. These commandos will work to secure the nation’s digital space and counter rising cyber threats. They will form the first line of defence in safeguarding India from the growing cyber threats.
- Samanvay Platform: The Samanvay platform is a web-based Joint Cybercrime Investigation Facility System that was introduced as a one-stop data repository for cybercrime. It facilitates cybercrime mapping, data analytics, and cooperation among law enforcement agencies across the country. This will play a pivotal role in fostering collaborations in combating cybercrimes. Mr. Shah recognised the Samanvay platform as a crucial step in fostering data sharing and collaboration. He called for a shift from the “need to know” principle to a “duty to share” mindset in dealing with cyber threats. The Samanvay platform will serve as India’s first shared data repository, significantly enhancing the country’s cybercrime response.
- Suspect Registry: The Suspect Registry Portal is a national-level platform that has been designed to track cybercriminals. The portal registry will be connected to the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) which aims to help banks, financial intermediaries, and law enforcement agencies strengthen fraud risk management. The initiative is expected to improve the real-time tracking of cyber suspects, preventing repeat offences and improving fraud detection mechanisms.
Rising Digitalization: Prioritizing Cybersecurity
The number of internet users in India has grown from 25 crores in 2014 to 95 crores in 2024, accompanied by a 78-foldincrease in data consumption. This growth is echoed in the number of growing cybersecurity challenges in the digital era. With the rise of digital transactions through Jan Dhan accounts, Rupay debit cards, and UPI systems, Shri Shah underscored the growing threat of digital fraud. He emphasised the need to protect personal data, prevent online harassment, and counter misinformation, fake news, and child abuse in the digital space.
The three new criminal laws, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), which aim to strengthen India’s legal framework for cybercrime prevention, were also referred to in the address bythe Home Minister. These laws incorporate tech-driven solutions that will ensure investigations are conducted scientifically and effectively.
Mr. Shah emphasised popularising the 1930Cyber Crime Helpline. Additionally, he noted that I4C has issued over 600advisories, blocked numerous websites and social media pages operated by cybercriminals, and established a National Cyber Forensic Laboratory in Delhi. Over 1,100 officers have already received cyber forensics training under theI4C umbrella.
In response to the regional cybercrime challenges, the formation of Joint Cyber Coordination Teams in cybercrime hotspot areas like Mewat, Jamtara, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Visakhapatnam and Guwahati was highlighted as a coordinated response to local cybercrime hotspot issues.
Conclusion
With the launch of initiatives like the Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre, the Samanvay platform, and the Cyber Commandos Program, I4C is positioned to play a crucial role in combating cybercrime. The I4C is moving forward with a clear vision for a secure digital future and safeguarding India's digital ecosystem.
References:
● https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2053438
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Introduction
Criminal justice in India is majorly governed by three laws which are – Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and Indian Evidence Act. The centre, on 11th August 2023’ Friday, proposes a new bill in parliament Friday, which is replacing the country’s major criminal laws, i.e. Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and Indian Evidence Act.
The following three bills are being proposed to replace major criminal laws in the country:
- The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023 to replace Indian Penal Code 1860.
- The Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, 2023, to replace The Code Of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
- The Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023, to replace The Indian Evidence Act 1872.
Cyber law-oriented view of the new shift in criminal lawNotable changes:Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023 Indian Penal Code 1860.
Way ahead for digitalisation
The new laws aim to enhance the utilisation of digital services in court systems, it facilitates online registration of FIR, Online filing of the charge sheet, serving summons in electronic mode, trial and proceedings in electronic mode etc. The new bills also allow the virtual appearance of witnesses, accused, experts, and victims in some instances. This shift will lead to the adoption of technology in courts and all courts to be computerised in the upcoming time.
Enhanced recognition of electronic records
With the change in lifestyle in terms of the digital sphere, significance is given to recognising electronic records as equal to paper records.
Conclusion
The criminal laws of the country play a significant role in establishing law & order and providing justice. The criminal laws of India were the old laws existing under British rule. There have been several amendments to criminal laws to deal with the growing crimes and new aspects. However, there was a need for well-established criminal laws which are in accordance with the present era. The step of the legislature by centralising all criminal laws in their new form and introducing three bills is a good approach which will ultimately strengthen the criminal justice system in India, and it will also facilitate the use of technology in the court system.
18th November 2022 CyberPeace Foundation in association with Universal Acceptance has successfully conducted the workshop on Universal Acceptance and Multilingual Internet for the students and faculties of Royal Global University under CyberPeace Center of Excellence (CCoE). CyberPeace Foundation has always been engaged towards the aim of spreading awareness regarding the various developments, avenues, opportunities and threats regarding cyberspace. The same has been the keen principle of the CyberPeace Centre of Excellence setup in collaboration with various esteemed educational institutes. We at CyberPeace Foundation would like to take the collaborations and our efforts to a new height of knowledge and awareness by proposing a workshop on UNIVERSAL ACCEPTANCE AND MULTILINGUAL INTERNET. This workshop was instrumental in providing the academia and research community a wholesome outlook towards the multilingual spectrum of internet including Internationalized domain names and email address Internationalization.
Date –18th November 2022
Time – 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Duration – 2 hours
Mode - Online
Audience – Academia and Research Community
Participants Joined- 130
Crowd Classification - Engineering students (1st and 4th year, all streams) and Faculties members
Organizer : Mr. Harish Chowdhary : UA Ambassador Moderator: Ms. Pooja Tomar, Project coordinator cum trainer
GuestSpeakers:Mr. Abdalmonem Galila, Abdalmonem: Vice Chair , Universal Acceptance Steering Group (UASG) ,Mr. Mahesh D Kulkarni: Director, Evaris Systems and Former Senior Director, CDAC, Government of India, Mr. Akshat Joshi, Founder Think Trans First session was delivered by Mr. Abdalmonem Galila, Abdalmonem: Vice Chair , Universal Acceptance Steering Group (UASG) “Universal Acceptance( UA) and why UA matters?”
- What is universal acceptance?
- UA is cornerstone to a digitally inclusive internet by ensuring all domain names and email addresses in all languages, script and character length.
- Achieving UA ensures that every person has the ability to navigate the internet.
- Different UA issues were also discussed and explained.
- Tagated systems by the UA and implication were discussed in detail.
Second Session was delivered by Mr. Akshat Joshi, Founder Think Trans on “Universal Acceptance to the IDNsand the economic Landscape”
- What is Universal Acceptance?
- The internet has had standards that allow people to use domain names and email addresses in their native scripts. Software developers need to bring their applications up-to-date so that consumers can use their chosen identity.
- A typical problem is that an IDN email address is not recognised by a website form as a valid email address.
- The importance of adopting IDNs z Enable citizens to use their own identity online (correct spelling, native language) z Relates to language, culture and content z Promotes local and regional content z Allows businesses and politicians to better target their messages.
Third session was delivered by Mr. Mahesh D Kulkarni, ES Director Evaris on the topic of “IDNs in Indian languages perspective- challenges and solutions”.
- The multilingual diversity of India was focused on and its impact.
- Most students were not aware of what Unicode, IDNS is and their usage.
- Students were briefed by giving real time examples on IDN, Domain name implementation using local language.
- In depth knowledge of and practical exposure of Universal Acceptance and Multilingual Internet has been served to the students.
- Tools and Resources for Domain Name and Domain Languages were explained.
- Languages nuances of Multilingual diversity of India explained with real time facts and figures.
- Given the idea of IDN Email,Homograph attack,Homographic variant with proper real time examples.
- Explained about the security threats and IDNA protocols.
- Given the explanation on ABNF.
- Explained the stages of Universal Acceptance.
Executive Summary:
A viral picture on social media showing UK police officers bowing to a group of social media leads to debates and discussions. The investigation by CyberPeace Research team found that the image is AI generated. The viral claim is false and misleading.
Claims:
A viral image on social media depicting that UK police officers bowing to a group of Muslim people on the street.
Fact Check:
The reverse image search was conducted on the viral image. It did not lead to any credible news resource or original posts that acknowledged the authenticity of the image. In the image analysis, we have found the number of anomalies that are usually found in AI generated images such as the uniform and facial expressions of the police officers image. The other anomalies such as the shadows and reflections on the officers' uniforms did not match the lighting of the scene and the facial features of the individuals in the image appeared unnaturally smooth and lacked the detail expected in real photographs.
We then analysed the image using an AI detection tool named True Media. The tools indicated that the image was highly likely to have been generated by AI.
We also checked official UK police channels and news outlets for any records or reports of such an event. No credible sources reported or documented any instance of UK police officers bowing to a group of Muslims, further confirming that the image is not based on a real event.
Conclusion:
The viral image of UK police officers bowing to a group of Muslims is AI-generated. CyberPeace Research Team confirms that the picture was artificially created, and the viral claim is misleading and false.
- Claim: UK police officers were photographed bowing to a group of Muslims.
- Claimed on: X, Website
- Fact Check: Fake & Misleading
