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Interviews Podcast on Honey Trap Fraud on the Internet - with Adv. Chaitanya Bhandari Podcast on Cybercrimes against women - with Dr. Pattathil Dhanya Menon Podcast on Protection against Cybercrimes - with Dr. Gaurav Gupta Podcast on Cybercrimes in a virtual workspace - with Ms. Pallavi Pratap Podcast on Pornography and its implications - Ms. Mary Sharpe & Dr. Darryl Mead

Cybersecurity Handbook View Handbook Cyber Laws are contained in the IT Act, 2000, and the Act aims to provide the legal infrastructure for E-commerce in India. The main objective of writing this manual is to present the complicated provisions of Cyber Laws in a simplified and concise manner. The manual provides helpful information from various disciplines, including criminology and information technology. Because of the diversity of backgrounds of potential readers, this manual presumes no prior knowledge of the technical aspects of cybercrime – key concepts in both areas are defined as they arise in the following chapters. The chapters consider research conducted in each room but also apply practical examples and models to each type of cybercrime. The chapters also consider many spects of each cybercrime – they do not simply consider the offender but also the effects on the victims ,a suitable punishments, potential preventative measures and comparisons to similar offline offences. The need for this Manual appears obvious as more people access the Internet and engage in online activities, including the trade of goods and services, banking transactions, and credit card purchases, as the size of cyberspace continues to expand. However, by taking advantage of flaws in various gadgets, thieves use the same networks to perform cybercrimes that also impact the real world. Cybercriminals commit identity theft and financial fraud, steal intellectual property from companies, undertake espionage to obtain military and state secrets, and enlist the help of other criminals to carry out physical terrorist operations around the globe. The impacts of cyber-attacks are similar to those of terrorist attacks in physical space since they are used to interfere with crucial infrastructures like financial and air traffic control systems India sees a significant increase in cybercrime. Incidents of malware, spam, and phishing arealso on the rise. The manual intends to fulfil the purpose of educating college students and women about the meaning of cybersecurity. The team would like to thank Dr. Kalpeshwar Gupta and ProBono India for their contribution with the handbook. ​ ​

Podcast on Honey Trap Fraud on the Internet - with Adv. Chaitanya Bhandari Q. Do you believe that the legal remedies provided in India to combat sensitive Cybercrimes are sufficient? A. Well, yes, I think India has one of the strongest acts today and we are one of the first few countries who came in together to formulate this act and start working on this subject. So, I think we are good enough when you compare it with the other laws and regulations that we have in India. We have a good document in place but implementation or usage of the document is still a million-dollar question. Q. Do you believe that crimes like cyberstalking, image-based sexual abuse, etc. are gender-based crimes and affect women more? A. Its not that the crimes happen more with women, but reporting happens more with women because as a society we kind of teach girls that it is okay to cry or to ask for help, but, unfortunately, even today society tells the boys that you can’t complain or you can’t be cheated because you are a boy. Because of these psychological factors that go into a child’s mind, there are few complaints as far as the male gender is concerned. Therefore, the reporting happens more with women. In my opinion, however, both the segments, even the transgender segment for that matter are equally susceptible to these kinds of crimes and I don’t see any difference in the impact of such crimes at all. Well, my NGO, called Amanzo, deal with a lot of children’s issues therefore we get more reports on kids. Q. What impact do these online crimes have on the victims, and how do they cope with it? Are there organizations in our country that help them? A. The psychological effect that it creates is really really bad especially among children because they tend to believe what they hear and see multiple times. For example, if you run the statistics among the psychologists they say that there is an increased level of sexual orientation or sexual perverts between children today because they are exposed to unwanted data which is not right for their age, and they tend to believe what they see. This problem is really difficult to manage because people really need to understand and accept that there is a problem like this. In a country like India, where even discussing about psychological impacts is taboo, a lot of awareness and education amongst the society is required. And the helping can only be done by counsellors or psychological professionals. Interview Link

Upskirting While Upskirting comes under the broader ambit of image based sexual abuse. It should be listed as a specific crime under the provisions of the IPC. Upskirting is the act of secretly taking pictures under a woman’s skirt without her consent. In 2019, The Voyeurism (Offences) (No 2) Bill was passed by which Upskirting became a crime in United Kingdom. With this the discussion of the crime of Upskirting has been perpetuated. Laws regarding Upskirting India has no laws that specifically deal with cyber flashing but, for now, these incidents are being covered by Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Information Technology Act, 2000. Section 66E of the Information Technology Act covers anyone who knowingly takes, publishes, or transmits an image of another person's private area without their agreement. Section 354C of the Indian Penal Code punishes capturing the image of a lady going about her intimate acts while she believes no one is watching her. This involves using the restroom, being undressed or in underwear, and engaging in a sexual act.

Work with us Positions available There are currently five active teams in Project Tasveer which are working continuously in furtherance of the project’s agenda: Research Team – The team works on providing content for the website and social media as well as blogs. It researches various legal provisions, case laws etc regarding the subject matter of the project. Events team – As of now, Tasveer runs a podcast and cyber awareness drives with schools and NGOs. As for the podcast, we interview experts in cyberlaw and cybersecurity on various topics related to the agenda of the project. The legal cyber awareness drives are conducted for students of schools and with NGOs. The primary work of the Events Team is to plan such events as mentioned before, coordinate with the guests of the event and bring in more ideas to make such events a success. Reviewing Team – The reviewing team works on blogs and the content we receive to ensure that the content is factually and legally correct. The content is edited and reviewed by the team to ensure it meets the standards of Tasveer’s blog and website. Online Engagement Team – The Online Engagement team manages the Social Media Accounts of Tasveer. It acts as a bridge between different teams, collects their works and uploads it on our online channels. It drafts the social media strategies of the project and ensures its implementation. Lastly, it updates the website which is the main medium and the backbone of the project. Graphics Team – The Graphics Team makes the posts and stories to make Tasveer an engaging platform over the Internet. It creates promotional material such as posters, reels, etc. for various events conducted by the initiative and is also responsible for any media content that goes on the project’s online channels. Eligibility Students pursuing graduation through any 3- or 5-year law course from a recognised university. Students pursuing graduation in any social science subject such as History, Political science, etc., or students pursuing graduation in Psychology from a recognised university. Application Process Those interested in applying and meeting the above-mentioned qualifications may send their CVs, along with a cover e-mail to tasveeraproject@gmail.com . The applicants are advised to mention 3 teams of their choice, in the order of their preference to join the said teams. It is advisable to send work samples such as blogs and graphic samples for those applying to Research Team and Graphics Team respectively. The subject of the mail should be – ‘Application for Internship – August 2022’. The deadline for sending the applications is 22nd July, 2022. This would be followed by an interview of the selected candidates. The details of the same would be sent to the selected candidates in due time. Those who perform well during their internship period might be offered an opportunity to join the project as full-time members.

Meet The Team Namah Bose Founder Namah Bose is a student at the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab and she is extremely passionate about human rights law and women’s rights. After being a part of several projects dedicated to various forms of cybercrimes, she started Tasveer. Growing up, she has always worked with various initiatives and projects that deal with human rights. It was when she became a teenager that she began to notice that social media has become a new platform that is used frequently to spread violence, hate & sexist comments. As technology grows, newer crimes like Revenge porn, Sextortion, image-based sexual assault, cyber-flashing, cyberbullying, and Up-skirting are becoming a widespread menace. To the extent that during her final year in school she was a victim of a crime of similar nature herself. After noticing the frequency of such incidents, she decided to actually work towards changing the status quo and that’s when the idea of Tasveer came to her. Tasveer intends to raise awareness among the masses especially, college and school students about the existence of such crimes and the appropriate manner to deal with them & report them. Satvik Mishra Co-Founder Satvik Mishra is a final year student at the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab. His expertise lies in Technology Media Laws, & cybercrimes. He specialises in Criminal Law and has bagged several prestigious internships in the TMT department of various tiered firms. He is an ardent mooter and has been a part of the team that won the South Asian rounds of Monroe E Price Media Law Moot Court. The sole reason for starting this project has been his drive to bring legal changes in the technology law domain. He firmly believes that the country can advance if the laws around social media and the online sphere change with the recent technological advancements as well as the changing nature of crimes. He also feels the country's youth lack the legal awareness of cybercrimes of sensitive nature. With these factors in mind, he has co-founded Tasveer. Sneha Roy Head (Social Media and Graphics) Sneha is a law student at the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab and aspires to be a leading corporate lawyer. Her interests lie in Company Law, Intellectual Property Rights & Insolvency laws. Along with her legal expertise, she possesses a strong skillset in graphics and website designing. The sole reason of her becoming a part of this initiative has to relate with the fact that a lot of my acquaintances and close friends have been prey to cybercrimes. She has viewed the consequences the victims have faced are something that she wouldn't want anybody to go through. This initiative, to her, is extremely pivotal as it raises awareness amongst individuals for the legal provisions and safety measures to avoid or report cybercrimes. She heads the social media Team & Graphics of Tasveer Vaibhav Garg Member Vaibhav Garg is a student of the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab. He is deeply intrigued by Sports law and criminal law. He wants to explore his interests further in law school. He believes that society turns a blind eye to the online sexual abuse happening around them until someone close becomes a victim. At that point, it hits them and they are more often than not left with no answers or responses, just with a feeling of helplessness. Neither victim nor people around them are fully aware of how to handle the situation or whom to contact and because of this they often choose to suffer in silence along with blaming themselves for the crime. Tasveer aims to remove the stigma attached to the victim of such crimes, help people and victims with the feeling of helplessness and make them aware of the laws and ways through which they can regain the control of the situation along with making them aware of how these crimes can be prevented from taking place in the future. Initiatives like Tasveer, are something that is needed now more than ever and it gives him a platform to contribute and make whatever changes he can to make the situation better. Aryaa Nagpal Member Aryaa Nagpal is a law student at University School of Law and Legal Studies, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi. She is passionate about International Law, Cyber laws, Gender Studies and Alternative Dispute Resolutions. Being passionate about humanitarian laws from a young age, Aryaa has always wanted to raise legal awareness in society and has participated in several workshops and projects for the same. The Internet has interconnected the world and has revamped the communication process for everyone. However, this interconnectivity results in an increase in online crimes which is accompanied by a need for awareness. An initiative like Tasveer, provides a platform to discuss, research and raise awareness about legal protection available to people. This platform thus gives her an opportunity to work on issues which she is passionate about and to hopefully, assist those who are unaware of the laws in the country. Ria Bansal Director Ria Bansal is a student of the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab. She is passionate about Criminal law, Criminology & Tech laws. She thinks that cyberspace extends to great limits. While it fosters a sense of global communion, it is also a dangerous arena. The entrenched nature of cyberspace has created many new offences, the understanding of which is pertinent to today’s legal climate. For that reason, she has joined this initiative with a motive to improve the research and intervention in the field of cybercrime. Since this field is in a nascent stage in many countries, there is a greater need for law students and professionals to apply their skills and contribute to it. Hence, she finds it to be among the most impactful projects that she has taken part in. Rahul Dhingra Member Rahul is a student at the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab. He recently graduated as United Nations Millennium Fellow. He possesses over six months of experience working for the promotion of SDG 4 of the United Nations (Quality Education). He has previously delivered awareness sessions pertaining to data privacy and consumer protection in the remote regions of Punjab. He is keen to work for the social and educational upliftment of our society. Sex crimes over the internet have been rising for some time now. This relatively newer form of crime takes a mental toll on the victims, often left helpless. Through Tasveer, the team aims to become the voice of these victims. The team aims to erase the stigma linked to victims of such crimes, as well as assist them in overcoming feelings of helplessness by educating them on the laws and methods for regaining control of the situation, as well as on ensuring how similar crimes can be prevented in the future. Monika Sheoran Member Monika Sheoran is a student of Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab. Her areas of interest lie at the nexus of Business Laws and Human Rights Laws. She has an inclination toward the practice of Commercial Arbitration in the field of Alternative Dispute Resolutions. She is engaged in research activities alongside being an avid reader. She feels there is an urgent need for stringent legislative intervention measures against cybercrime, especially for women and children. Her primary objective behind joining this initiative is to help in whatever ways she can in achieving the goal of supporting women in cybersecurity and helping the victims of cybercrimes. She aims to contribute to inter-disciplinary research in this domain and thereby help in networking, educating and mentoring the individuals regarding the same. With the cybersecurity industry being a male-dominated one, she feels that being a part of this initiative will help in further decreasing the gender gap in the cybersecurity workforce as this initiative itself has been founded by a woman. Her areas of interest lie at the nexus of Business Laws and Human Rights Laws. She has an inclination toward the practice of Commercial Arbitration in the field of Alternative Dispute Resolutions. She likes being engaged in research activities alongside being an avid reader. Kanishka Member Kanishka is a student at the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab. Their areas of interest are criminal law, Gender Justice and DBA rights. They have joined this particular initiative because they think they can significantly contribute to this following initiative given by drive and inclination. This project is something that they look forward to working on. Mehvish Alam Member Mehvish is currently a law student at the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala. She is a changemaker and has worked with several NGOs, volunteering to teach underprivileged students across Bangalore. At Tasveer, she contributes by lending her views and expertise on the legal and social aspect of the issues by researching and pointing out grey areas. She is perfervid and is extremely passionate about issues related to cyber crime and strives to make a change and contribute to the society through this particular platform. Aditya Srivastava Member Aditya is a student at Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab. The digital age has perpetual abuse in the virtual domain. This form of harassment and abuse has manifested into various forms which have worsened the condition of its victims with scant remedy at their disposal. Tasveer, as an initiative is a platform to educate and raise awareness about the wrongs committed on the internet and to provide insights into the occurrence of such crimes. It further aims to research the lacunae in the existing legal framework and provide solutions to ensure a robust and efficient justice system prevails in the web arena. This provides an avenue to explore and contribute in the development of law and societal awareness and it is a significant opportunity to work with this initiative. Anurag Parmar Member Anurag Parmar is a graduate of Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab and he is extremely passionate about social welfare and human rights. After being a part of several NGOs dedicated to various projects, he joined Tasveer. Since the day he chose law as a career he had a special interest in cyber law and crime in cyberspace. He always wanted to pursue cyber law and hence has graduated with criminal law as a specialization. Apart from academics he always has a keen interest in social welfare and currently is a of an NGO, of which he has been part of for the past 6 years. As soon as the concept of Tasveer was introduced to him he was really quick in agreeing to be a part of it as Tasveer intends to raise awareness among the masses especially, college and school students about the existence of such crimes and the appropriate manner to deal with them & report them. Karman Singh Member Karman Singh is a student at the National Law Institute University, Bhopal. He is passionate about Public International Law, International Commercial Arbitration & Cyber Laws. He is eager to contribute to our society's social and intellectual advancement. For quite some time, there has been an increase in online sex crimes. The victims of this more contemporary crime suffer mentally since they are typically rendered defenceless. It is now more critical than ever for him to engage in discussion and implement whatever improvements he can think of. For quite some time, there has been an increase in online sex crimes. The victims of this more recent type of crime, who are frequently rendered defenceless, suffer psychologically. Due to the prevalence of the internet, it is necessary to understand a variety of new crimes to operate legally in the present. Tasveer gives him that forum to further investigate and act against cybercrime as a result. Harshita Kapoor Member Harshita Kapoor is a Law graduate from City Academy Law College, University of Lucknow. She has a keen interest in criminal law, cyber law, constitutional law and especially the law relating to children and women. She is also a social activist and has constantly helped society by conducting or participating in different projects and seminars. Though not all people are victims of cyber crimes they are still at risk. Crimes done behind the computer are the 21st century's problem. With the technology increasing, criminals don't have to rob banks, nor do they have to be outside in order to commit any crime. They have everything they need on their lap. An initiative like Tasveer provides a platform to discuss, research and raise awareness about legal protection available to people so that safety measures can be taken to avoid cybercrime. This platform thus gives her an opportunity to reach out to people. Oorja Goel Member Oorja Goel is pursuing a BA.LLB from the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab. She has always aspired for doing good for society in whatever she does. The objective of studying law also stems from the ulterior motive of doing whatever in a personal capacity for the greater good. She has a special interest in Criminal law and laws relating to women’s rights. This project has an unmatched significance in her life because she has a very close understanding of the nature of such crimes and how can these disrupt the lives of innocent victims. She is more enthusiastic about the cybercrimes that are being inflicted on women and girls unabated currently. She believes that the awareness and etiquette of how to use the internet are lagging far behind the leaps of advancement in the misuse of the same technology. It must be mentioned here that the more common these crimes are, it comes as a surprise that the lesser the awareness about how to deal with them. Thus, the main objective behind joining this initiative is to contribute however possible to create the much-needed awareness and such an environment where the fear and apprehensions about cybercrimes are alleviated appropriately. Shreya Kak Member Shreya Kak is a law student at the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab. Her aim is to be a significant personality in the domain of corporate law. Her area of interest lies in company law, family law and women's rights. She is engaged in research activities alongside being an avid reader. After being a part of several NGOs dedicated to various projects, she joined Tasveer. Her contribution to Tasveer has been significant as she wants to help the suffering victims because at some point this has been experienced by a major portion of people especially girls and women and the practice of such crimes has been made normal which should not be the case. For that reason, she has joined this initiative with an aim to improve the research in the field of cybercrime. She has previously educated girls in various NGOs across the country about menstrual hygiene. Hence, it is one of the most significant projects she has taken up to be part of.

Revenge Porn Revenge Porn, in the contemporary times, is one of the most frequent forms of cybercrime that the netizens encounter. The dissemination of sexually explicit pictures or films online without the consent of the person who is shown in the images is an example of a kind of pornography known as non-consensual pornography. The most frequent type of this type of pornography is known as "revenge porn." The perpetrator is often an ex-partner who gets photographs or videos over the course of a past relationship, with the intention of publicly shaming and humiliating the victim as a form of vengeance for the victim terminating a relationship with the perpetrator. But the people who commit these acts are not usually current or former romantic partners, nor are they always motivated by a desire for vengeance. Images may also be acquired through hacking into the victim's computer, online accounts, or cell phone, and they can be used with the intention of inflicting genuine harm on the victim's lifestyle in the "reality". The repercussions of revenge porn are very concerning. After photographs of a target have been put online, it is not uncommon for other users on the internet to begin following the subject. This is a significant breach of privacy rights. When it comes to expose networks, the photographs that are shared typically contain sensitive information about the victim, such as a link to their social network account. This might result in very damaging instances of online harassment. These kinds of photographs may generate a variety of significant concerns, including stalking, in addition to that. The repercussions may be felt in every facet of a given situation; for example, it can be quite humiliating to find pictures of oneself placed on the web. A significant number of fatalities do not even attempt to broach the subject with their loved ones. Furthermore, probably the most significant repercussion is that it might result in issues relating to one's emotional stability. The sufferer may begin to experience inferiority complex, helplessness, and grief, which may start to play a pivotal role in their lifestyle. This is most definitely the situation where the outside world fails to protect the victim and ends up condemning them for the matter in hand Laws regarding Revenge Porn India has no laws that specifically deal with revenge porn but, for now, these incidents are being covered by the Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act, 2000. Section 66E in the IT Act of 2000 states that violation of privacy wherein the accused intentionally captures, publishes or transmits the picture or image of the victim’s private body part without the consent of the individual is a punishable offence. Section 67 of the IT act provides for the punishment for publication of or transmission of obscene and sexual material through an electronic medium. Section 354C talks about the IPC of Voyeurism. According to this section, if any man watches or captures a woman engaging in a private act, unaware she is being watched or filmed, not expecting of being observed by the person who disseminates such image or video would be liable under the law

Agenda Tasveer works on cybercrimes of sensitive nature and keeping in touch with its subject, the project will focus on four objectives. First Tasveer will raise awareness of cybercrimes considered taboos on its social media platforms and through its website. Second Tasveer will promote research on cybercrimes and cybersecurity so as to reduce cyber violence through its blog and other research projects Third Tasveer will work on conducting cyber awareness drives which will also raise legal awareness regarding such crimes and the provisions safeguarding netizens from instances if cyberviolence. Fourth Tasveer will conduct events wherein guests and experts from around the globe working with cyber laws and cybersecurity would be invited to disseminate knowledge on the nittigrities of such crimes.

Sextortion The Delhi Cyber Unit on their official website describes Sextortion as a fraud that can take place both against male and female victims (although the majority of the victims are primarily females) and the perpetrator can be both an unknown person or a known one. In such crimes, the culprit usually entices and induces the victim to share their private and nude photographs or videos over the phone, which are then stored and saved by the former for future extortion (sextortion). To elucidate further, in layman's language, with the advancement of technology there has been an increase in sexual extortion, especially during the Covid-19 Pandemic. The victims are often targeted and are made to indulge in non-consensual activities under the threat of sharing private/ lascivious material. This is termed Sextortion or Sexual Extortion. There are several different forms of Sextortion – one of which is Cyber Sextortion. In Cyber Sextortion, the perpetrator gains trust of the victim by befriending them through social media platforms. The victims then, are enticed into sending their private images through the same medium with the assurance of complete secrecy. However, in several cases, the victims are threatened with the publications of these images/videos and are coerced into bending to the whims of the perpetrator. It is not essential that the perpetrator obtains the images through the victim’s consent. In several cases, the victim’s photos are obtained without their consent i.e.- through password cracking, hacking etc. One of the most common ways of Cyber Sextortion is through social media websites. The perpetrator keeps the images and videos collected as ransom and coerces the victim to send graphic content as well as perform criminal acts with the threat of publishing the graphic content. Another method of Cyber sextortion is through phishing through emails. Innocent victims are targeted through e-mails claiming that the perpetrator has their account passwords. They are then threatened with leakage of their private poses on social media unless they co-operate with the perpetrator. Laws regarding Sextortion In India, Sextortion has not been recognised as a separate crime. Thus, the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Information Technology Act govern the offence of sextortion in India. Section 108(1)(i)(a) of the Criminal Procedure Code allows the victim to contact the magistrate in her area and inform them about the person she believes is spreading obscene material. The magistrate has the authority to detain such an individual(s) and order them to sign a bond to avert him from spreading the material. This may throw the suspect off and deter him from committing the offence. This is a brief redressal section because the victim can file a complaint with the magistrate without providing direct evidence of a crime. Section 292 of the Indian Penal Code makes it a crime to circulate lascivious material via electronic means. An offence under this section is punishable by two years in prison or a fine of Rs 2000. If images are captured from a private location without her consent, Section 345C of the Indian Penal Code, which defines voyeurism, can be used as an offence under sextortion. Section 354A of the Indian Penal Code makes any demand or request for sexual favours and any physical contact and advances involving unwanted and explicit sexual overtures illegal. An offence under this section is punishable with a prison sentence of up to 1 year or with a fine up to 5 lakh rupees. Section 384 of the Indian Penal Code defines extortion as an offence that can be used in Sextortion cases.

Podcast on Protection against Cybercrimes - with Dr. Gaurav Gupta Q. Your book provides insight into these criminals' minds and their modus operandi from their own perspectives. Could you elaborate on that? A. Access to smartphones and cheap internet makes illegitimate activities very low risk and high reward. This happens to people with technological acumen but bad intentions and no proper employment. This even happens because the people on the other side of the screen can be illiterate, especially in India. The modus operandi of phone scammers is mass dialling and even if they find one unaware user they can play with minds, they play with emotions like greed. They put us on a timer to pay them in a limited time. Q. In this age of misinformation and politics, how does one navigate to the true facts of cyberspace? A. Most often we reach places in cyberspace through some random link, creating misinformation. All these platforms like WhatsApp, Twitter, etc. are designed to make us hooked to them. So, while as informed citizens, we should make a presence on social media but we should not believe everything on it. Q. Do you think our governments and the courts are doing enough to curtail cyber crimes, especially considering the spike seen in the pandemic period? A. Technological adoption is exponential due to the pandemic. The government is doing very well in dealing with dynamic technology. The art of investigation has truly evolved. But due to our large population and how now it is easy to report crime from home, a larger number of crimes are being reported. Interview Link

Cybercrimes Child Pornography Cyberflashing Deepfakes Revenge Porn Sextortion Upskirting