Cyber Fraud In The Digital Age Legal Challenges And The Need For Robust Data Protection
Chandra Deep Singh & Dr. Mithlesh Malviya
DOI:
Abstract
Unparalleled connectivity has become a hallmark of contemporary living with the rise of digital platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube, and countless more. The flip side of this digital revolution is cybercrime, which has grown into a global concern. Cybercrime is becoming increasingly prevalent as the number of active users continues to rise, reaching over two billion across all mediums. While cybercrime is a worldwide issue, made worse by illiteracy, poverty, and a lack of understanding, India’s chronic lack of thorough laws to deal with cybercrimes appropriately highlights the urgent need for stronger cybersecurity measures in the country. This absence of legislative safeguards disproportionately affects women, children, and the elderly. Issues such as fraud involving marriage websites, child pornography, and data theft are prevalent. Also, once uploaded to Facebook or a messaging software like WhatsApp, it is impossible to remove all traces of the data. This highlights the need for rules like the “Right to be Forgotten,” which has been recognised in Europe. While the Information Technology Act of 2000 does provide some legal structure, it is insufficient to deal with the ever-evolving and increasingly complicated nature of cybercrime in India. A robust legislative framework to combat cybercrime is now called for in this paper, as stricter regulation is necessary in this digital age.