October 17 is a special day in the Digital history of India since it was this day in the year 2000 that India first provided legal recognition for electronic documents by notifying the Information Technology Act 2000. Since then the life of many IT professionals in India has changed for ever. Along with recognition of electronic documents came the Digital/Electronic signatures and a whole set of business opportunities around that. Cyber Lawyers saw a new field of activity emerging and professionals in law enforcement had to recognize the new domain of Cyber Law enforcement. E Commerce and E-Governance as well as E Banking in particular has also contributed to millions of job opportunities that can be attributed directly to the event of October 17, 2000 notifying the ITA 2000.
Now under the leadership of Mr Modi, India is talking of a new era of Digital progress beyond the e-commerce and e-Governance. We are deep into Mobile Commerce, use of Aadhar as a universal digital ID. Smart Cities and IOTs are slowly making it a part of our life. Electronic circuits are part of many of our day to day gadgets including the wearable Watches, the Cars, the Washing Machines etc.
Along with these developments in technology, the Cyber Crimes are also increasing and Police are under constant challenge to tackle the new age crimes.
In such an environment, it is the duty of every one of us who has directly or indirectly been affected by the advent of Cyber Laws in India and created Netizens out of Citizens to commemorate October 17 with the respect it deserves.
I therefore urge all Cyber Professionals to conduct their own special activities on this October 17 to just remember that this is the day when the “Digital Society of India” was born.
If you are in an educational institution, call your students and hold an awareness meeting.
If you are in a Company, have a “ITA 20008 Compliance Meeting”.
If you are a Bar Council member, call a meeting to discuss “Cyber Laws in India”,
If you are in the Police, conduct a meeting of your subordinates and increase the awareness of Cyber Crimes….
If you are in Indian Defense, develop an awareness of the world of Cyber Wars…the next war will be dominated by Cyber attacks.
And if you are Mr Narender Damodar Das Modi, call a cabinet meeting and make the Cabinet colleagues aware of the importance of developing and managing a “Cyber Law Compliant E Governance system”.
…………Just as “International Yoga Day”, the “Digital Society Day” deserves to be commemorated.
Naavi
Also a small request to make all the Adjudicating Officers as well as Cyber Appellate Tribunal functional!!!