Dealing with Cyber Threats

Cyber threats need to be taken very seriously

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been pointing out how terrorist organisations are using technology for radicalisation and capitalising on emerging digital avenues such as the dark net, metaverse and cryptocurrency platforms.

At the recently concluded G-20 summit and various other platforms, Modi has been stressing on how these can have social and geopolitical implications. “Cyber terrorism, online radicalisation, use of networked platforms to move funds from money laundering to drugs and terrorism – are just the tip of the iceberg,” he thinks.

According to the Prime Minister, cyberspace has introduced an entirely new dimension to the battle against illicit financial activities and terrorism. “Terrorist organisations are using technology for radicalisation, moving money from money laundering and drugs into terror funding, and capitalising on emerging digital avenues such as the dark net, metaverse, and cryptocurrency platforms to fulfil their nefarious aims.

Obviously, cyber threats need to be taken very seriously. These have also implications for the social fabric of nations. As Modi says, the spread of ‘deep fakes’ can cause chaos and loss of credibility of news sources. “Deep fakes’ can be used to fuel social unrest. So, it is of concern to every group, every nation, and every family. That is why we have taken this up as a priority,” he said.

It is against this background that a mammoth International Conference on Cyberlaw, Cybercrime & Cybersecurity, 2023 was held on 29th, 30th November & 1st December, 2023 at Scope Convention Centre, Scope Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi. It was organized by Cyberlaws.Net and Pavan Duggal Associates.

The Conference 2023 was being supported by UNESCO, UNODC, University For Peace of United Nations, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India, Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law & Justice, Government of India, IEEE Technology & Engineering Management Society, Ecommerce Forum Africa, Globethics.Net, EC Medici Framework and Association of Indian Universities.

The Conference 2023 had 46 different sessions with more than 250 speakers over three-day deliberations from different parts of the world. The conference discussed and deliberated upon some of the important aspects, issues and challenges concerning cyberspace.

In the past years, the International Conference on Cyberlaw, Cybercrime & Cybersecurity has been supported by 125+ international and national organizations. These include UNESCO, ITU, and UNU-EGOV in the UN Family, as also by Intersputnik International Organization of Space Communications, Europol Cybercrime Centre, Interpol, Internet Society, World Federation of Scientists, International Association of Prosecutors, Global Prosecutors E-Crime Network and Asia Cloud Computing Association.

Addressing the Conference, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul Judge, Supreme Court of India highlighted the significance of Internet for societies and the massive misuse of Internet that is emerging across the world. He also highlighted the need to have greater knowledge about Cyber Law and various cyberspace related aspects concerning the law enforcement agencies, prosecuting agencies and the courts of law. He particularly highlighted how the Internet is being used to target the sovereignty of countries, which is emerging as a big trend which needs to be appropriately addressed.

He flagged the tremendous increase in cyber terror and cybercrime cases and advocated the need for judiciary to adopt more proactive approach towards cyberspace related issues and challenges. While talking about the access to justice and digitization of courts, he emphasized on the need of ensuring access to justice to the last man.

The inauguration of the conference was further addressed by various national and international dignitaries including Mr. Vint Cerf, Chief Evangelist, Google and the Father of the Internet, Mr. Alfredo M. Ronchi, General Secretary of the European Commission-MEDICI Framework.

In his sterling Cyberlaw address, the Conference Director Dr. Pavan Duggal specifically spoke about the evolving legal landscape, as far as Cyberlaw across the world is concerned. He highlighted the distinctive new trends in Cyberspace and how there is a need for addressing the same. He specifically addressed the need for expeditious evolving of norms of behavior in cyberspace. He emphasized on how distinctive national approaches on cyber security can become a predominant approach for regulating security and why there is a distinctive need for coming up with international common denominators to deal with cyber security regulation at global level. He also highlighted various cyber legal challenges that emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence have brought forward to the world at large.

The three-day of the conference marked massive discussions, deliberations and debates amongst various stakeholders.

The conference had different sessions relating to cyberlaw, cybercrime & cyber security, darknet, regulating Artificial Intelligence, freedom of speech online, digital transformation etc. on the second day.

The conference specifically talked about darknet, personal privacy in cyberspace. The conference also talked about Artificial Intelligence, cybercrime and cyber security.

Other sessions of the conference included norms of behaviour in cyberspace, Cybercrimes, Trolling, Cyber Bullying, Cyber Harassment & Cyber Nuisance, Critical Information Infrastructure Protection, Free Speech Online, Cryptocurrencies, Blockchain etc.

The Conference was addressed by distinguished global experts and thought leaders as also Indian digital thought leaders and important towering personalities in the digital world including Hon’ble Mr Justice Rajesh Bindal,Judge, Supreme Court of India, Justice Gita Mittal, Former Chief Justice, Jammu & Kashmir High Court, Alfredo M. Ronchi, Secretary General, EC MEDICI, Mr. Alan Brill, Managing Director, Kroll, Dr. Triveni Singh, Superintendent of Police, Cybercrimes, Uttar Pradesh Police, Harshdeep Marwah, CEO & Managing Director, OA Compserve Group – RASPL, OACPL Ltd., Prof. Dr. Christoph Stueckelberger, Founder and President, Globethics.Net amongst others.

The conference had a unique format where interactivity amongst the panelists and the audience was highlighted. There were immense discussions and debates amongst the participants of the conference on coming up with new approaches on how to deal with newly emerging cyberspace issues.

The valedictory session of the Conference was addressed by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Anup Bhambani, Judge, Delhi High Court. Speaking at the conference, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Anup Bhambani highlighted the significance of the conferences like the present one and further highlighted the need for coming up with proactive approaches so that the judiciary can appropriately address nuances pertaining to cyber disputes.

Addressing the valedictory session, the Conference Director Dr. Pavan Duggal thanked all stakeholders and hoped that the International Conference on Cyberlaw, Cybercrime & Cybersecurity will continue to contribute to evolving jurisprudence on Cyberlaw, Cybercrime & Cybersecurity.

The conclusion of the conference marked yet another important chapter in the direction of India contributing its thought leadership on cyberspace issues.