Policy Watch
CERT-In Designated as Cyber Forensic Laboratory Authorized as an ‘Examiner of Electronic Evidence’
CERT-In, India’s premier cybersecurity agency, has been recognized as the country’s first cyber forensic lab under the IT Act. This milestone strengthens India’s ability to handle electronic evidence in criminal investigations and digital fraud cases.
The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has been notified as the country’s first Cyber Forensic Laboratory under the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000. This recognition, granted under Section 79A of the IT Act (Amendment 2008), establishes CERT-In as an Examiner of Electronic Evidence, marking a pivotal moment in the nation’s journey towards robust digital forensics.
Role of CERT-In as a Cyber Forensic Lab
The notification designates CERT-In as a key authority to examine and provide expert opinions on electronic evidence, a crucial component in addressing:
- Legal disputes
- Criminal investigations
- Digital fraud cases
By integrating state-of-the-art forensic tools and methodologies, CERT-In will play a vital role in supporting law enforcement agencies and judicial systems to resolve complex cases involving electronic evidence.
Scope of Forensic Expertise
CERT-In’s expanded role as a cyber forensic lab allows it to handle a wide range of digital evidence, including:
- Computer Forensics: Analyzing data stored in computers and storage devices.
- Drone Forensics: Extracting and examining data from drone storage systems.
- Mobile Forensics: Recovering and analyzing evidence from smartphones and other mobile devices.
- CCTV Forensics: Investigating video footage from surveillance systems.
- Cloud Forensics: Handling evidence stored or transmitted through cloud environments.
- Media Recovery: Retrieving deleted or corrupted files from digital storage.
Importance of the Recognition
This recognition is expected to significantly strengthen:
- Credibility of electronic evidence in courts, ensuring legal admissibility.
- Prosecution of cybercrimes, including financial fraud, data breaches, and hacking.
- Confidence of law enforcement agencies in resolving digital crime cases.
Significance of Section 79A of the IT Act
Section 79A empowers the government to notify agencies to act as examiners of electronic evidence. This ensures that electronic records, such as computer data, videos, and mobile evidence, meet the necessary standards of legal admissibility.
A Step Towards a Cyber-Secure Future
The designation of CERT-In as India’s first cyber forensic lab aligns with the government’s broader goal of building a resilient cybersecurity ecosystem. With its enhanced capabilities, CERT-In is equipped to:
- Handle the rising complexities of cyber incidents.
- Provide swift and precise analysis of electronic evidence.
- Strengthen the rule of law in the digital age.
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