Punjab to Introduce Strict Punishments for Cyber Crime

The Punjab government has completed the draft of the ‘Punjab Cyber Crime Control Act 2024,’ which proposes penalties ranging from 3 months to 14 years in prison.

This legislation aims to create a provincial cyber crime agency. The draft will be presented to the Punjab Cabinet’s Standing Committee on Law and Legislative Affairs for preliminary approval.

According to sources, under the Crime Control Act 2024, offenses such as cyber terrorism, child pornography, and sexual exploitation will be classified as non-bailable. The act will also ensure protection for victims and witnesses and establish a Cyber Crime Agency.

Furthermore, special courts will be established to handle cybercrime cases.

The sources added that the new law will address a range of cyber crimes, including unauthorized access to data or information systems, content related to child sexual harassment, activities on the dark web, data damage, electronic and financial fraud, explicit sexual conduct, child sexual abuse, illegal interception, unauthorized information access, and illegal data copying or transmission.

In addition, the Punjab Cyber Crime Act 2024 will apply to cyber terrorism, hate speech, recruitment, funding, and planning for terrorism, electronic forgery, and fraud, illegal issuance of mobile SIMs, child pornography, child trafficking, and sexual exploitation, using information for abduction, smuggling children, cyberbullying, and cyber scams and forgery.