Cyber crime: Call for uniform law

Karnataka High Court judge Justice SR Bannurmath has stressed the need for a uniform law to combat cyber crime.

Inaugurating a two-day workshop on 'Cyber Crime and Women', organised jointly by the Karnataka State Women's Commission and Karnataka Police at Karnataka University, he said the widespread use of the Internet had given rise to cyber crimes and women were being targeted.

The existing law in the state to contain cyber crime was not very effective and there was a need to strengthen the Karnataka Information and Technology Act 2000, he asserted. He said the Internet and cyber crime had international ramifications and that there was a need for a uniform law worldwide.

Justice Bannurmath said women under 40 were falling prey to cyber crime and in many cases they were accused of being involved in the crime. He pointed out that the incidence of cyber crime, which was high in Delhi, had spread to other cities including Bangalore.

Delivering the keynote address, additional director general of police (Training) DV Guruprasad said the Internet had its advantages and disadvantages and that there was an urgent need to monitor the usage of this facility.

Quoting the findings of a survey, Guruprasad said five lakh women were being subjected to harassment. Stating that there were 80 billion internet users, the ADGP said 50 per cent of cyber crimes against women were being committed by people known to them.

He urged parents to monitor the use of the Internet by children to avoid further trouble. He also cautioned women against recording all their personal details on the Internet at cyber cafes.