Information Technology (Amendment) Act 2008

Overview
The Government of India enacted the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act 2000) on June 9, 2000, It provides a legal framework for transactions carried out by means of electronic data interchange and other means of electronic communication, commonly referred to as "electronic commerce," which involve the use of alternatives to paper-based methods of communication and storage of information, to facilitate electronic filing of documents with the Government agencies.

Over the years, with several new forms of computer crime, misuse and fraud taking place, a need was felt to strengthen legisllation pertaining to information security. Accordingly IT Act 2000 was amended and the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008 was enacted on February 5, 2009 in order to instill confidence in the users and investors in the area of Information Technology in the country. This Act added provisions to the existing Information Technology Act, 2000 to deal with new forms of cyber crimes like publicizing sexually explicit material in electronic form, video voyeurism, cyber terrorism, breach of confidentiality and leakage of data by intermediary and e-commerce frauds.