Agencies

NEW DELHI, Dec 24: Parliament on Tuesday passed the Information Technology (Amendment) Bill that provides for imprisonment, which could extend to life term, for those indulging in cyber terrorism and a jail term of up to five years for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form.

The Bill, which was earlier passed by the Lok Sabha and cleared by the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, prescribes stiff punishment for offences related to misuse of computers and communication equipment.

It seeks addition of provisions to deal with cyber crimes such as transmitting sexually explicit materials in electronic form, video voyeurism, breach of confidentiality, leakage of data by intermediary and e-commerce frauds.

It treats cases related to dishonestly receiving stolen computer resource, identity theft, cheating by impersonation using computer resource and violation of privacy very seriously.

For those indulging in cyber terrorism with the intent of threatening the unity, integrity, security or sovereignty of the country or striking terror in the people, the Bill stipulates life imprisonment.

Transmitting material containing sexually explicit acts in electronic form would be punishable by imprisonment of up to five years along with a fine of up to Rs.10 lakh.

Similarly, publishing or transmitting of material depicting children in sexually explicit acts in electronic form will also invite a punishment of up to five years and a fine of up to Rs.10 lakh. It has also been proposed to set up a Cyber Appellate Tribunal.