CRIMES IN CYBERSPACE - PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTIVE

Abstract

New communication systems and digital technology have made dramatic changes concerning the style of living of a person. A revolution is noticed in the mode of transacting business. Businesses and consumers are increasingly using computers to create, transmit and store information in the electronic form instead of traditional paper documents. Information stored in the electronic form has many advantages. It is cheaper, easier to store, retrieve and above all speedier to communicate. Even though the people are aware of these advantages even then they are reluctant to conduct business or conclude any transaction in the electronic form due to a lack of an appropriate legal framework. The two principal obstacles that stand in the process of facilitating electronic commerce and electronic governance are the requirements of writing and the signature for legal recognition. At present many legal provisions assume the existence of paper-based records and documents and records which should in reality at present bear signatures. The Law of Evidence is traditionally based upon paper-based records and oral testimony since electronic commerce eliminates the need for paper-based transactions, hence many countries have switched over from traditional paper-based commerce to e-commerce.