Context: Government has authorised Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) to receive and share information from Enforcement Directorate and other law enforcement agencies to combat money laundering linked to cybercrime.
Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)
Overview:
- I4C is a nodal agency established by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to address cybercrime in a coordinated and comprehensive manner.
- It aims to enhance inter-agency coordination and boost the nation’s cybercrime response capabilities.
Key Functions and Initiatives:
- Improves coordination between Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) and stakeholders to combat cybercrime.
- Partners with technology platforms like Google and Facebook to share intelligence and signals for proactive action against cybercriminals.
- Works with digital platforms to identify and flag organized cyber fraud, including investment scams initiated via Google services and other tools.
Empowerment under PMLA:
- I4C has been included under Section 66 of the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act (PMLA).
- This inclusion empowers I4C to:
- Access financial intelligence.
- Track money trails linked to cybercrime.
- Assist in combating money laundering activities tied to digital frauds.
Objectives of I4C:
- Enable easy filing of cybercrime complaints.
- Identify cybercrime trends and patterns for targeted responses.
- Serve as an early warning system for Law Enforcement Agencies.
- Combat cybercrime targeting women and children specifically.
- Raise public awareness on cyber hygiene and crime prevention.
- Support capacity building for State/UT police, prosecutors, and judicial officers in:
- Cyber forensics
- Investigation techniques
- Cyber hygiene
- Cyber-criminology