GS- PAPER- II/III, Government Policies / Cyber Security

Context-

• The Ministry of Home Affairs has developed the Scheme for Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children (CCWC) to establish an effective system for addressing cybercrimes targeting women and children.
• Safe City Projects, developed by the Police and Municipal Corporations of the city, are in keeping with the demands of their women citizens and to plug any gaps in existing infrastructure.
  

Some technology-driven Projects/Schemes included under Nirbhaya Fund. Which  include:-

• As of April 30, 2024, the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS)-112 is operational across all 36 States and Union Territories, handling over 36.29 crore calls and with more than 14.36 lakh downloads of the ‘112 India’ Mobile App.
• Safe City Projects, developed by local Police and Municipal Corporations, aim to address safety needs of women and improve existing infrastructure.
• Phase I of the project focuses on implementing smart policing and safety technology in eight cities: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Mumbai.
• State Forensic Science Laboratories (SFSLs) have been established in 30 States/UTs,
• The Women Helpline (WHL)-181 is integrated with ERSS in 35 States/UTs, having assisted over 76.02 lakh women as of May 31, 2024.
• Additionally, Monitoring Centres for Vehicle Tracking Platforms (VTP) have been set up in 11 States/UTs, including Bihar, Pondicherry, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Odisha.

Components of the Scheme

1. Online Cyber Crime Reporting–

• Under the Constitution of India, ‘Police’ and ‘Public’ are State subjects, making states responsible for crime prevention, detection, and investigation through their law enforcement agencies.
• According to the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act, 2000, these agencies act against cyber fraud offenders
• The Online Cybercrime Reporting Portal, launched on September 20, 2018, allows victims to report cybercrimes, specifically related to Child Pornography (CP), Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), or sexually explicit content.
• This portal serves as a central repository for such crimes and supports the publication of annual analytical reports on cybercrime trends and responses.

2. Forensic unit–

• Proper handling of cyber-crime evidence per the IT Act and Evidence Act is crucial.
• A national cyber forensic laboratory will operate 24/7, providing the latest forensic tools to central, state, and union territory labs.
• The laboratory will also have cyber security experts to conduct electronic forensic analyses and support law enforcement nationwide.

3. Capacity building unit

• This unit will enhance the capacity of Central and State Police Forces, prosecutors, judicial officers, and other stakeholders in detection, investigation, and forensics.
• It will also support state and union territory officials in pursuing long-term courses to enhance their expertise in these fields.

4. Research and development unit–

• To effectively detect obscene and objectionable content online, continuous refinement and research are essential.
• This requires collaboration with key research and academic institutions.
• Such initiatives will enhance technology readiness and better prepare for various cyber-crimes. Multiple Centres of Excellence (COEs) will be established across the country as part of these research and development efforts.

5. Awareness Creation Unit–

• The government of India needs a clear citizen awareness program for cyber-crime prevention.
• Cybercrime and cyber hygiene education will be integrated into school curricula from an early age. These initiatives aim to raise awareness among citizens and better prepare them to handle various cyber-crimes.

Conclusion:

The government’s implementation of the Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children (CCPWC) scheme under the Nirbhaya Fund reflects a strong commitment to enhancing safety and addressing cyber threats. Similarly, Safe City Projects, developed collaboratively by Police and Municipal Corporations, are tailored to meet the specific safety needs of women and address gaps in existing infrastructure. Together, these initiatives represent a comprehensive approach for improving security and protecting vulnerable populations.