DHNS
 
Bangalore, Jul 11: Is there a hacker in your college campus? Is your school computer being used to publish cyber pornography or to indulge in credit card theft? If any such cyber crimes are being committed on academic campuses, the school or college authorities can be in for a lot of trouble.

Raising an alarm over the increasing use of school and college computers for cyber crimes, the Asian School of Cyber Laws (ASCL) , in tie-up with Association of Indian College Principals, has kicked off an awareness campaign on campuses across India on IT laws.

Addressing a press conference on Monday, Rahul Sud of ASCL said, “As per the Indian IT Act 2000, crimes like hacking can attract punishment of five years imprisonment and a fine of Rs one lakh. The liability for accidentally or deliberately transmitting a computer virus can be up to Rs one crore. The acts of the students can extend the civil and criminal liabilities to institutions also, which is why school and college institutions should be aware of IT laws.”  

The campaign is also looking at conducting awareness programmes for students.

“The educational institutions should educate students about the severe legal liabilities, so that they are less likely to attempt any cyber wrong,” revealed Murali Mohan, an advocate associated with ASCL.

Adding that institutions should ask students and their parents to sign an undertaking, Mr Mohan said such undertaking would indemnify educational institutions in case of misuse of computers by the students.

Cyber Wrongs

Publishing pornography - If such publication is done using college computers, imprisonment from 5 to 10 years and fine up to Rs 2 lakh.

Installing pirated software - Violation of copyright and other laws by students can incur severe liability for the institution.

Transmission of computer virus - Sending email by a virus infected computer deliberately or accidentally can result in a fine of Rs 1 crore and up to 3 years imprisonment

Downloading or copying data from a website or library -Can incur severe liability

Installing Trojans/ Spyware - If used by students for hacking purposes, institutions can incur civil and criminal liabilities.