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ARTICLE · 10 FEBRUARY 2020

Cyber Crimes Under The IPC And IT Act - An Uneasy Co-Existence

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The term "cyber-crimes" is not defined in any statute or rulebook. The word "cyber" is slang for anything relating to computers, information technology, internet and virtual reality.

IndiaMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Vinod Joseph
Vinod Joseph
Deeya Ray
Deeya Ray
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Defining "Cyber Crimes"

The term "cyber-crimes" is not defined in any statute or rulebook. The word "cyber" is slang for anything relating to computers, information technology, internet and virtual reality. Therefore, it stands to reason that "cyber-crimes" are offences relating to computers, information technology, internet and virtual reality.

One finds laws that penalise cyber-crimes in a number of statutes and even in regulations framed by various regulators. The Information Technology Act, 2000 ("IT Act") and the Indian Penal Code, 1860 ("IPC") penalise a number of cyber-crimes and unsurprisingly, there are many provisions in the IPC and the IT Act that overlap with each other.

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