Punjab Cybercrime Control Agency on the cards

LAHORE: For the first time in Punjab, a draft of the ‘Punjab Cybercrime Control Act 2024’ has been prepared to create a provincial Cybercrime Control Agency, which will be presented to the Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs of the Punjab Cabinet for initial approval.

Earlier, the federal government had created PECA Act regarding cybercrime, which is currently in force. Highly reliable sources told ‘Jang’ that the purpose of setting up this cybercrime agency under the Home Department is to prevent all prohibited activities regarding information systems.

Through the Punjab Cybercrime Control Act 2024, the provincial government will be able to investigate, prosecute and try crimes related to information systems. According to the sources, this law will deal with illegal access to any data or information system, child sexual abuse content, dark web, data loss, electronic and financial fraud, sexually explicit conduct, child sexual abuse, unlawful interception, unauthorized access to information, illegal copying of data or its transmission, cyber terrorism, hate speech, recruitment for terrorism, funding and planning, electronic forgery and fraud, illegal mobile SIM. The law release will apply on child pornography, trafficking and sexual exploitation of children, use of information for kidnapping, illegal trafficking of children, cyber bullying, cyber spamming and counterfeiters.

Under the ‘Punjab Cybercrime Control Act 2024’, there will be a minimum imprisonment of three months and a fine of Rs50,000 and a maximum of 14 years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs50 lakh.

Under this law, some crimes will be bailable but some serious crimes, including cyber-terrorism, child pornography and sexual exploitation, will be non-bailable and have higher penalties and fines.

According to the law, against the decision of the Magistrate Section 30, the Sessions Judge and then against the decision of the Sessions Court, LHC can be moved. The Punjab Cybercrime Control Act 2024 will provide protection to victims and witnesses. There will be separate courts and judges for the trial of cases registered under this law and appeal against the decision of the trial court will be made in the High Court.