The Hindu Business Line : Expert panel set up to review IT Act

THE Government on Friday announced the formation of an expert committee for an in-depth review of all issues relating to Information Technology Act, 2000 and to consider suitable legislation for data protection (privacy) in the Act.

The move to set up the committee comes close on the heels of the controversy generated over the arrest of CEO of Baazee.com last month in a case that involved sale of a sexually explicit clip on the auction site. The industry had subsequently called for an amendment in the IT Act.

The expert committee headed by Mr Brijesh Kumar, Secretary, Department of Information Technology, includes Dr A.K. Chakravarty, Scientist-G, DIT, Mr Kiran Karnik, President of Nasscom, Mr Ajay Chowdhry, Chairman, HCL Infosystems Ltd, Mr Ajit Balakrishnan, CEO, Rediff, and Mr R. Ramraj, CEO, Sify Ltd.

The mandate of the committee includes re-examining the IT Act so as to ensure that it remains an enabler for development of information and communication technology and has adequate measures for promoting growth of e-commerce and e-governance in the country and also for regulating cyber crimes and cyber forensics.

It would consider the recommendations made by the inter-ministerial working group on cyber law & cyber forensics and finalise the amendments to the Act; consider suitable legislation for data protection (privacy) in the Act; consider the feasibility of making the Act technology-neutral.

It would also consider the issue of regulating cyber cafes' operations and blocking of Web sites; and look into the matter of India signing the European Cyber Crimes treaty and make suitable recommendations. The expert committee will submit its report within six weeks, an official release said here.

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