In India, penalties for cybercrimes are outlined in the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act) and related regulations. The severity of penalties varies depending on the nature and gravity of the cyber offense committed. Here are some common cybercrimes and their corresponding penalties under Indian law: Unauthorized Access to Computer Systems (Section 43 of IT Act): Penalty: Imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years or with a fine which may extend to one lakh rupees or with both. Hacking (Section 66 of IT Act): Penalty: Imprisonment for a term which may extend to 3 years or with fine which may extend to five lakh rupees or with both. Data Theft (Section 43A of IT Act): Penalty: If there is failure to protect sensitive personal data or information, the body corporate or any person on its behalf who is negligent in implementing and maintaining reasonable security practices and procedures shall be liable to pay damages by way of compensation to the person so affected. Identity Theft (Section 66C of IT Act): Penalty: Imprisonment for a term which may extend to 3 years and shall also be liable to fine which may extend to rupees one lakh. Cyber Terrorism (Section 66F of IT Act): Penalty: Imprisonment for life. Obscene Content (Section 67 of IT Act): Penalty: Imprisonment for a term which may extend to 3 years and with fine which may extend to five lakh rupees. Defamation (Section 66E of IT Act): Penalty: Imprisonment for a term which may extend to 3 years and with fine. Phishing (Section 66D of IT Act): Penalty: Imprisonment for a term which may extend to 3 years and with fine. Cyber Stalking (Section 66A of IT Act): Penalty: Imprisonment for a term which may extend to 3 years and with fine. Violation of Privacy (Section 43 of IT Act): Penalty: Depending on the specific nature and severity of the violation, penalties can range from fines to imprisonment. It's important to note that these penalties are subject to change based on amendments to the IT Act or additional regulations introduced by relevant authorities. Additionally, penalties may vary based on the specific circumstances of each case and the discretion of the courts in determining appropriate punishment.

Dear client, India has strict cybercrime laws under the information technology (IT) Act, 2000 and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to address the offenses committed using the medium of digital technology. Hacking and unauthorized access: • Section 66: hacking or unauthorized access to a computer system can result in imprisonment of up to 3 years and a fine of Rs 5 lakhs. Identity theft and impersonation • Section 66C: using another person’s identity fraudulently which leads to the imprisonment of up to 3 years and a fine of Rs. 1 lakh. • Section 66D: online impersonation or cheating by pretending to be someone else is punishable with up to 3 years in jail and a fine of Rs 1 lakh. Cyberstalking and online harassment: • Section 67A: sending sexually explicit content electronically can lead to the punishment of 5 years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10 lakhs. • Section 354D IPC: cyberstalking which means repeatedly following or contacting someone online can result I 3 years in jail for the first offense and for the 5 years for subsequent offense. Cyber terrorism: • Section 66F: If the cyber activities threaten the sovereignty of India or create public disorder the offender can face the punishment for the life imprisonment. Financial cybercrimes • Section 420 IPC: offenses include online fraud, including phishing and credit card scams, can lead to punishment for imprisonment which leads to 7 years of jail and a fine. • Section 66D IT Act: fraud through electronic communications like fake bank calls are punishable with imprisonment for the term up to 3 years and with the fine. Spreading fake news and hate speech • Section 66A this section is struck down in 2015 but still misused in some cases which originally penalized offensive messages online. • Section 505 IPC: This section imposes punishment for spreading false imprisonment leading to public disorder which result in 3 years of imprisonment. Data breach and privacy violation: • Section 72 this section deals with disclosing personal information without consent can lead to punishment for a term of 2 years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh. Cyber extortion and ransomware attacks: • Section 384 IPC: cyber extortion, including ransomware attacks leads to the imprisonment up to 3 years • Section 66 IT act: using computers to commit extortion which results in the punishment for imprisonment up to 3 years and fine of Rs. 5 lakhs. I hope this answer helps, in case of future queries please feel free to contact us. Thank you