The Punjab government has finalized the draft of the ‘Punjab Cyber Crime Control Act 2024,’ which proposes stringent penalties ranging from 3 months to 14 years imprisonment for various cybercrimes.
The proposed legislation aims to establish a provincial cyber crime agency and address a wide range of digital offenses.The draft will be presented to the Punjab Cabinet’s Standing Committee on Law and Legislative Affairs for initial approval.
Under the Cyber Crime Control Act 2024, offenses such as cyber terrorism, child pornography, and sexual exploitation will be deemed non-bailable. The act also includes provisions for the protection of victims and witnesses and the establishment of a dedicated Cyber Crime Agency.
To expedite the handling of cybercrime cases, the government plans to establish special courts.
The new law will address a variety of cybercrimes, including unauthorized access to data or information systems, content related to child sexual harassment, activities on the dark web, data damage, electronic and financial fraud, explicit sexual conduct, child sexual abuse, illegal interception, unauthorized information access, illegal data copying or transmission, cyber terrorism, hate speech, recruitment, funding, and planning for terrorism, electronic forgery and fraud, illegal issuance of mobile SIMs, child pornography, child trafficking and sexual exploitation, using information for abduction, smuggling children, cyberbullying, cyber scams and forgery.
The Punjab Cyber Crime Control Act 2024 is a significant step towards combating cybercrime in the province and ensuring the safety and security of its citizens in the digital age.
