New Delhi, September 28: The government is expected to introduce penalties of up to ₹500 crore for violations of the Digital India Bill, sources have indicated. The proposed legislation grants the Centre the authority to empower government agencies to monitor and collect traffic data within digital systems to bolster cybersecurity measures. Additionally, it aims to identify, analyze, and prevent malware or virus intrusions.
The Ministry of Electronics and IT (Meity) has been diligently crafting the draft for the Digital India Bill, intending to replace the outdated IT Act, which was enacted over two decades ago during the early stages of the internet.
According to sources, “The Digital India Bill may include provisions for imposing penalties of up to ₹500 crore on entities for failing to meet their obligations.” The exact penalty amount will be determined by the proposed Digital India Authority, responsible for addressing grievances.
However, before deciding on the penalty amount, the authority will need to assess several factors, including the severity of the violation, the number of affected users, and the duration of the impact on individuals.
Disputes under the proposed Act are expected to be outside the jurisdiction of civil courts. Entities dissatisfied with the resolution provided by the Digital India Authority may have the option to challenge it before the Supreme Court, according to the sources.
The forthcoming Bill is likely to categorize and define various types of harm that victims may encounter in the digital realm. It is expected to outline offenses such as doxing, cybersquatting, astroturfing, and dog-whistling, with corresponding penalties.
The Bill is also set to establish norms for the oversight and regulation of emerging technologies, particularly in response to the challenges posed by the development of artificial intelligence, as indicated by the sources.
