Learning the legal aspects of computing

Computer and Internet are being used every day by billions of people around the globe. The Act provides, among other things, “legal recognition 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 and further to amend the Indian Penal Code, the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, the Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1891 and the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.” Lawyers have to be conversant with the latest IT technologies which cyber criminals regularly adopt. Avenues for learning cyber law Courses in cyber law cover syllabus areas including the following: Computer crimes Computer networks Cyber contracts and Indian legal position Data protection and privacy Databases e-banking and legal issues e-commerce Electronic and digital signatures Electronic contracts Indian penal law and cyber crimes Intellectual property International taxation in e-commerce Internet operations Investigation of cyber crimes Issues of internet governance Jurisdiction of cyber space Legal issues in internet copyrights Patents Security and evidence in e-commerce Software Taxation issues in cyber space Telecommunications laws Understanding cyber crimes Institutions and programmes NALSAR Proximate Education, NALSAR University of Law, Hyderguda, Hyderabad, offers one-year postgraduate diploma in cyber law. The Indian Institute of Information Technology, Deoghat, Jahlwa, Allahabad, offers two-year long Master of Science in cyber law and information security, details given in last week's article on cyber security. Advanced programme in international cyber law: Duration of the course is 12 months in distance mode.