People's fear and mistrust in authority leads to cybercrime, say experts at report launch on policing
The report, building onto its earlier reports documenting public trust and experience with police, examines the modus operandi of cybercriminals, the lived experience of victims, the digital habits and vulnerabilities of ordinary citizens, and the preparedness of the police and banks to handle complaints.
Experts at a report launch on policing in India have highlighted that people's fear and mistrust in authority contributes to the rise of cybercrime. The Status of Policing in India—Cybercrime–Victim Perspectives and Systemic Responses, published by Lokniti-CSDS and Common Cause, examines the tactics of cybercriminals, victims' experiences, digital habits, and the preparedness of police and banks to address complaints.
Nikhil Pahwa, a digital rights activist, shared how AI scanning public voters' data revealed personal information about individuals, raising concerns about surveillance and the potential for misuse of such data by cybercriminals. Sanjay Sahay, a retired IPS officer and cyber security expert, noted that people's fear of authority more than its ability to protect them leads them to fall victim to cybercrimes, such as digital arrests.
Radhika Jha, lead researcher of the SPIR series, emphasized that cybercriminals rely on social engineering tactics, including deception and manipulation, sometimes resorting to coercion and threats to gain sensitive information. The report revealed that only 23% of cybercrime victims believe the police are equipped to handle such cases, compared to 31% of non-victims.
Dr. Ranjana Kumari, Director of the Centre for Social Research, highlighted the challenges faced by women and rural victims in accessing the police, registering FIRs, and dealing with bribes. She stressed the need for digital awareness from childhood, encouraging educated women to report crimes, and compelling banks and digital companies to take responsibility for these crimes.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu - Sci-Tech's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
