Justice Mishra also addressed the misuse of public interest litigations (PILs), legal actions initiated for the public good. He cautioned against manipulating PILs for political purposes
Justice Arun Kumar Mishra, the chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), has raised concerns about the Dark Web and its potential harm to society. Speaking at a Constitution Day event, the former Supreme Court judge highlighted the urgent need for a robust digital forensic infrastructure to tackle the threats emanating from the Dark Web.
Mishra pointed out that a significant portion of cyberspace, around 96 percent, is occupied by the Dark Web. This hidden part of the internet is notorious for criminal activities like exploiting children, violating privacy, engaging in modern slavery, human trafficking, and even demanding ransom through data hacking. Mishra stressed that immediate action is required to put a stop to these criminal activities.
“We live in the digital era which is helpful for progress and development. There is a phenomenon of increasing the number of internet users. However, 96 per cent of cyberspace is the Dark Web. It is used for criminal purposes such as exploitation of children, destroying the right to privacy, modern slavery, trafficking, and demanding ransom by data hacking…it must be stopped,” the NHRC chief said.
“We must invest and develop a broad-based digital forensic infrastructure to tackle the misuse of cyberspace and criminal commerce. At the same time we have to ensure the digital divide is not there.”
The NHRC chief emphasised the importance of investing in and developing a comprehensive digital forensic infrastructure. This would enable authorities to effectively counter the misuse of cyberspace for criminal purposes. At the same time, he underscored the need to ensure that everyone has access to digital resources, bridging the digital divide.
Justice Mishra also addressed the misuse of public interest litigations (PILs), legal actions initiated for the public good. He cautioned against manipulating PILs for political purposes, stating that while they are beneficial, their misuse must be curtailed.
Mishra highlighted the significance of conducting violence-free elections to uphold the principles and goals outlined in the Constitution. This ensures that the democratic process remains fair and just, aligning with the constitutional ideals of the country.
