Is it a Witch posing as a Beautiful Girl?.. Or Is it the Proposed Amendments to ITA-2000?
Amendments to Information Technology Act -2000 in India is hailed by some as a welcome "Tightening of Laws". Some others call it "Criminal Friendly" and a Fraud on the society in India. You be the Judge.
Naavi
Vijayashankar
www.naavi.org
posted by Naavi @ 8:02 PM
Virtual Adultery.. a problem of the times
This article in TOI indicates a growing tendency of the current generation to lead a virtual life different from the physical life and do things which they are constrained not to do because of the norms of the society. No where this crossing of boundaries more evident than in the relationship with the opposite sex. While Cyber Sociologists have to take up this issue for further study, it would be of interest if courts start admitting "Virtual Adultery" as reasons for marital divorce. If "Virtual Property" can be a point of dispute, it is obvious that "Virtual adultery" can also be a point of marital dispute.
Naavi
Vijayashankar
www.naavi.org
posted by Naavi @ 8:01 PM
CBI to Investigate "Morphing" allegation
CBI has started an interesting investigation on alleged morphing of a photograph published in a book. While the use of the country's highest investigating agency for a case of low priority indicates a political hand behind the order, the investigation is likely to be academically interesting.
From the reports the brief appears to be not only to confirm morphing of the photo but also to prove that Mrs Najma Hepthulla, a political rival of the ruling Congress Party had any hand in it. Since the end objective of the investigation appears to be to establish the role of Mrs Hepthulla, like the infamous Justice Bannerjee Committee which came to the conclusion that the Godhra train was burnt by the Karsevaks themselves, CBI may be able to find the conclusive finger print of Mrs Hepthulla in the morphed picture. If so, it will in deed be a remarkable investigation !. If CBI is unable to prove the link of Mrs Hepthulla to the morphing, it would be one great waste of public resource for political vendetta.
Does CBI has the forensic capability to identify "morphing" and "finger print of the user"?.. only time will tell.
Naavi
Vijayashankar
www.naavi.org
posted by Naavi @ 8:00 PM
When Virtual Reality Hurts
India is a land where Shankara's Advaita philosophy was born. One of the main elements of this philosophy is that the world is "Maya".. "non existent in reality but experienced in imagination". The philosophy says that we experience pains and pleasures through imagination/hallucination. We do get a vindication of this theory in dreams and when we look at persons whom we consider "mad", who live in their own hallucinations all through the day.
Now, "Virtual Reality" is trying to create yet another avenue for people to experience what they imagine to be true. This explains why a game participant went to court claiming that his "Virtual Property" has been illegally confiscated by the "Virtual Government" (Refer "Learn to Unlearn", the first principle of "Cyber Jurisprudence). The creation of websites such as Hell.com to give the experience of how the experience at hell could be, (For a price) is a pointer in that direction. Many of the games which promote killing, violence and other aspects of life which is considered wrong is also an indicator of this mindset.
Where does this tendency lead to?.. is an interesting subject to explore.
Naavi
Vijayashankar
www.naavi.org
posted by Naavi @ 7:59 PM
Is Computer Virus a Work of Art?
Certain developments in the digital society highlight the different sociological standards that seems to prevail in the Digital Society. When we discuss Cyber Crimes and the behavioural aspects of Netizens, Naavi.org has been discussing a concept of "Technology Intoxication". When some technology wizards claim "Virus" as work of art, (Refer http://0100101110101101.org/projects.html ) a further doubt arises whether we are dealing with "Technology Intoxication" (which is a temporary state of mind) or "Technology induced derangement of mind" (permanent state of mind). How do we prevent our young generations degenerating into such state of mind? How do we rehabilitate some body from that state of mind?.. are some of the issues that "Cyber Behaviour Scientists" will have to discuss in future.
Naavi
Vijayashankar
www.naavi.org
posted by Naavi @ 7:58 PM
Social Networking Websites to be barred from US Schools?
In what is termed as an attempt to protect Children from the ill effects of the Internet, US is getting ready to pass a law titled "Deleting Online Predators Act" (DOPA). The effect of the act is to bar certain websites from being accessed from Schools and Public Libraries receiving Government funding. The sites which would be affected would be those sites which are allowing building of online communities and exchanging personal profiles. In particular web content including "commercial Web sites that let users create Web pages or profiles or offer communication with other users via forums, chat rooms, e-mail or instant messaging." would be the target of the legislation. ..More
naavi
Vijayashankar
http://www.naavi.org
posted by Naavi @ 7:55 PM
Indian Pseudo Cyber Security Activists..all set to play a fraud on the society
Two new legislations being contemplated in USA indicate the raise of new thoughts in Cyber Space regulations which will in due course contribute to the cumulative knowledge of "Cyber Jurisprudence". The first is the raising demand for "Mandatory Monitoring of ISPs".
While the countries with stringent records of Privacy Protection and Freedom of Speech are reconciling to the fact that in the emerging terror stricken world there is a need for new "Jurisprudence" where "Curbing of some freedom" is essential for protection of democracy, it is strange that in India there is an attempt to provide a better shield to the Intermediaries made possible by the Indian Pseudo Cyber Security Activists who are projecting the amendments as beneficial to the society. It is therefore with pain that we must say that the attempt is a fraud on the Indian society....More
Naavi
http://www.naavi.org
posted by Naavi @ 7:54 PM
Are Hyderabad Police partners in an illegal activity?
A Times of India Report states that it is common in Hyderabad for people to approach private so called "IT Security" companies to investigate cyber crimes. Not withstanding the success stories narrated in the report, it needs to be recognized that this trend of private investigation is dangerous and equivalent to private "dadagiri".
It is also objectionable that such companies should call themselves "IT Security Companies" or "Ethical Hacking" Companies, since they are actually "Private detective agencies" using the same tools which the criminals use such as password stealing etc.
If the TOI report is true, then these IT Security companies must be having access to the IP addresses of Internet users from the ISPs which is a privacy invasion.
Unless Government of India comes out with a legislation that allows existence of private detectives and empowers them to gather information from the ISPs and to undertake "Hacking for investigation", these activities have to be dubbed as illegal.
While I welcome the views of the e2Labs founder that private sector should assist the Police in Cyber Crime investigation, they have to be careful in not taking law into their own hands. This is precisely what seems to be happening in Hyderabad. It will not be long before some of these ethical hackers or the companies they are engaged in turn into e-extortionists themselves.
I demand that Hyderabad Police take necessary legal action on such companies based on the report. If not, public will only assume that the Police are hand in glove with the private operators and deliberately flunking investigations so that public may use the services of the private operators. Such a situation also makes public to assume that the Police are getting their mamool from these companies for diverting business to them where as in reality it may just be their inability to handle such investigations... TOI Article
naavi
http://www.naavi.org
posted by Naavi @ 7:51 PM
Views on Cyber Laws
