Already, most of the Corporate Executives  use Internet in their workplace.  Businessmen are wondering how Internet can help them expand their business.  Entrepreneurs are watching out for new business ideas that can make them billionaires like Samir Bhatia et al.  Professionals are making extensive use of the Internet for information gathering and dissemination.   Software professionals in particular know that there is no software project today that is not web enabled.  Even Housewives, who have been introduced to Internet bytheir children, have started enjoying the utility of the Internet.  Thus, Internet has already become an integral part of our life and will continue to influence every aspect of our day to day activity. 

Today many use Internet even if they don’t know how to type a letter in Word or prepare a presentation in Power Point.  Many users don’t know the difference between an Operating system and an Application.  But just as people drive a Car without knowing how Internal Combustion Engines or Multiple Fuel Injection systems work, they use Internet without knowing the intricacies of the technology behind this tool.  This trend of common men using Internet will keep growing and soon everyone will be “Netizens” by choice or by force.
If you were driving a car on a road, you would perhaps like to know the laws of the place governing the road use.  Similarly, if you drive on the “Information Super Highway” (which many think Internet is), you need to know what are the laws applicable therein. 

Until recently, there were no Cyber Laws in India.  Using Internet was therefore without any specific legal accountability.  Since one of the most significant uses of the Internet is to conduct Commercial transactions, it has become imperative for the country to adopt a regime of Cyber Laws which would determine the rights and liabilities of parties using the Internet for business or otherwise. The Information Technology Bill –1999, now before the Indian Parliament for approval will be the legal framework for Cyber Laws in India.  It will also define the scope of what constitutes a Computer Crime and what are the provisions envisaged in the Act to punish Cyber Criminals.  The bill also sets the framework for non-Internet transactions involving computer generated documents and communication.  As a consequential effect, Software Professionals working with computer programming will also be affected by the proposed law.

Even before the law becomes effective, it is necessary for every Internet user to familiarise himself with the implications of the laws on his life as a Netizen. This book which is perhaps the first of its kind (particularly in India), aims at making the Netizen understand Cyber Laws, the way it would affect him.  It is written for the common man who may not have an expert knowledge of either Computers or Law. 

This book is being written when the Information Technology Bill 1999 is before the Parliament for passage.  After passage of the bill by both the houses of legislation and the assent of the President of India, it will become an Act.  During this period as well as during the formation of the rules under the Act,  changes may occur in the provisions.  To keep the readers of this book updated on these developments, such information will be periodically made available at the web site http://www.naavi.comI hope the Internet community as well as other professionals will find the book useful. 

Except the portions on the administrative framework and legal references to other laws prevailing in India, the conceptual thoughts discussed here are universal. Also, these Cyber Laws of  India can affect persons not residing in,or those who are not citizens of  India.  The book may therefore be of interest to Netizens outside India as well.

I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all my friends and well-wishers who have encouraged me in my endeavor to bring out this book as a knowledge tool to build a community of law-abiding, Cyber-literate Netizens in India.

Na. Vijayashankar
November 27, 1999