Running Head: IT 659 e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e 1
IT-659 – CyberLaw & Ethics
Module one- Introduction
IT 659 e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e 2
Introduction
In the technology-driven times, the role and relevance of the cyber laws have
intensified due to the rise in the number of criminal activities that are taking place in
the cyberspace. Every year, cyber attackers and cyber hackers are using innovative
approaches in order to take advantage of the vulnerabilities and weaknesses of
individuals and business organizations and are thus compromising the confidential
information that is saved on the cyber platform.
In the present times, the cyber laws have become an integral part of the
Information Technology environment and their impact can be felt on the business
activities, e-commerce businesses, or the e-communication industries (Kamble, 2013, p
1). The cyber law principles and concepts are applicable in almost every aspect that is
conducted on the virtual platform and involves the use of the internet.
The e-commerce activities involve the transactions relating to money and thus
there are high instances of the criminal activities and illegal practices that take place
relating to these online business activities (Kumawat, 2016). The threat associated with
the cybercrime is increasing the vulnerability of the online business activities and
keeping the e-retailers on their toes so that they can safeguard themselves, their
customers and other stakeholders from the attacks of the cyber criminals. A number of
cyber laws have come into existence so that the power in the hands of the hackers can
be restricted and the online participants can feel empowered by working in a safe online
setting (Kumawat, 2016).
A number of cyber laws and regulations have been introduced so that the
reliance and authenticity of the electronic activities and online transactions can be
enhanced in the process (Unctad.org, 2018, p 7). Some of the vital cyber laws that have
been introduced relate to the implementation of the compatible e-signatures and e-
IT 659 e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e 3
contract laws, protecting the online customers in the dynamic online setting, addressing
the core issues relating to data protection and the privacy of the online users and giving
a tough fight to the cybercrime activities that are taking place in the present times.
Such principles have been introduced so that the instances of online criminal practices
can be effectively managed and mitigated in the process (Unctad.org, 2018, p 8). These
principles have a major implication on the online activities that are carried out. The
application of the cyber laws principles has become a fundamental necessity so as to
safeguard the online users (Unctad.org, 2018,p 10).
The reputed shipping business named Maersk was a victim of a cyberattack that
adversely affected its brand reputation and also led to financial losses. The NotPetya
attacked the IT system of the business undertaking and crippled its entire Information
technology infrastructure. Its APM terminals had been impacted for a few weeks and the
business activities came to a major standstill due to the online threat that was
encountered by the shipping business concern (Ship-technology.com, 2018, para. 3).
The magnitude of the cyber-attack revealed that the shipping industry is not
entirely prepared to give a tough fight to the online attackers that exploit the
vulnerability of the industry participants and negatively affect the day-to-day business
activities and operations (Maersk.com, 2018, p 7). The application of the cyber laws can
act as a protective shield for the shipping businesses. e
IT 659 e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e
e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e 4
References
Kamble, R. (2013). Cyber Law And Information Technology. Journal Of Scientific &
Engineering Research, 4(5).
Kumawat, M. (2016). E-commerce, Cyber Crime and Indian cyber Law. International
Journal Of Law, 2(1), 45-58. doi: doi.org/10.22271/law
Maersk.com (2018). A.P. MØLLER - MÆRSK A/S BOND INVESTOR
PRESENTATION FEBRUARY 2018. Retrieved from
http://investor.maersk.com/static-files/83bb9cd4-ee4b-4fbc-9d84-da2447c7214a
Ship-technology.com (2018). Did the Maersk cyber attack reveal an industry dangerously
unprepared? - Ship Technology. Retrieved from https://www.ship-
technology.com/features/maersk-cyber-attack-reveal-industry-dangerously-unprepared/
Unctad.org (2018). Cyberlaws and regulations for enhancing e-commerce: Case studies
and lessons learned. Retrieved from
https://unctad.org/meetings/en/SessionalDocuments/ciiem5d2_en.pdf
