Information Technology Amendment Act 2006

Information Technology Amendment Act 2006
STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS

The Information Technology Act was enacted in the year 2000 with a view to give a fillip to the growth of electronic based transactions, to provide legal recognition for e-commerce and e-transactions, to facilitate e-governance, to prevent computer based crimes and ensure security practices and procedures in the context of widest possible use of information technology worldwide.

2. With proliferation of information technology enabled services such as e-governance, e-commerce and e-transactions, protection of personal data and information and implementation of security practices and procedures relating to these applications of electronic communications have assumed greater importance and they require harmonisation with the provisions of the Information Technology Act. Further, protection of Critical Information Infrastructure is pivotal to national security, economy, public health and safety, so it has become necessary to declare such infrastructure as a protected system so as to restrict its access.

3. A rapid increase in the use of computer and internet has given rise to new forms of crimes like publishing sexually explicit materials in electronic form, video voyeurism and breach of confidentiality and leakage of data by intermediary, e-commerce frauds like personation commonly known as Phishing, identity theft and offensive messages through communication services. So, penal provisions are required to be included in the Information Technology Act, the Indian Penal Code, the Indian Evidence Act and the Code of Criminal Procedure to prevent such crimes.

4. The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) in the year 2001 adopted the Model Law on Electronic Signatures. The General Assembly of the United Nations by its resolution No. 56/80, dated 12th December, 2001, recommended that all States accord favourable consideration to the said Model Law on Electronic Signatures. Since the digital signatures are linked to a specific technology under the existing provisions of the Information Technology Act, it has become necessary to provide for alternate technology of electronic signatures for bringing harmonisation with the said Model Law.

5. The service providers may be authorised by the Central Government or the State Goverment to set up, maintain and upgrade the computerised facilities and also collect, retain and appropriate service charges for providing such services at such scale as may be specified by the Central Government or the State Government.

6. The Bill seeks to achieve the above objects.