Centre amends IT rules to issue orders for destroying interception records

Syllabus: GS-II, Subject: Current Affairs , Topic: Acts, Bills, Rules & Guidelines, Issue: IT Act 2000

Context: Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication amended the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Interception, Monitoring and Decryption of Information) Rules, 2009.

Highlights:

  • It allows the Home Secretary or other officers in the centre to issue directions to destroy digital records of interception or decrypt information.
  • This will broaden powers of the centre to issue directions to destroy digital evidence.

The IT Rules 2009 were passed under the IT Act 2000.

Prelims Connect: (Acts, Bills, Rules & Guidelines)

Information Technology Act, 2000

It is a primary law in India dealing with cybercrime and electronic commerce.

Key Provisions:

●       Definitions for key terms like “electronic record,” “digital signature,” “information technology,” etc.

●       Penalises various cybercrimes like hacking, data theft, and online fraud.

●       Safe harbour provision: Intermediaries not liable for any third-party information, data, or communication.

●       Empowers government to block information from public access under specific conditions like sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India etc.

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