According to a report by Cybersecurity Ventures, cybercrime is projected to cost the global economy a staggering $10.5 trillion annually by the end of 2025, up from $3 trillion in 2015.
| Photo Credit: Sebastian Francis E
In recent years, cybercrimes have skyrocketed, becoming one of the most pressing challenges for governments, organisations, and individuals worldwide. According to a report by Cybersecurity Ventures, cybercrime is projected to cost the global economy a staggering $10.5 trillion annually by the end of 2025, up from $3 trillion in 2015. This exponential rise is fuelled by the increasing sophistication of cyberattacks, ranging from ransomware and data breaches to phishing and identity theft.
The rise of cybercrime has affected law enforcement agencies globally and India is no exception. Police forces are facing significant challenges as they grapple with the evolving nature of cyber threats and the increasing complexity of investigating and preventing cybercrimes. The sheer volume of cybercrimes in India, as recorded in the recent NCRB’s Crime in India, is overwhelming.
M.A. Saleem
| Photo Credit:
MURALI KUMAR K
Layers of intricacy
Fraud, hacking, identity theft, online harassment, digital arrest, investment app frauds and child exploitation are just a few of the types of cybercrimes that law enforcement agencies must contend with. Each crime presents its unique challenges and requires specialised knowledge and tools. The complex nature of cybercrimes adds layers of intricacy to investigations, often involving multiple jurisdictions, encryption, anonymization, and sophisticated attack vectors.
Government and Police cannot alone contain the growing menace of cybercrimes and the IT industry also cannot handle it alone. Hence the solution is to ensure the collaboration of the Government with the private sector and academia to conform with the rapidly-changing technological world. A collaborative strategy like the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model is essential to address the growing complexities of cybercrime. The National Cyber Security Policy of India also affirms in developing effective PPP models.
The PPP model allows for the pooling of resources, expertise, and technologies, enabling faster detection, response, and prevention of cyberattacks. By working together, stakeholders can share real-time threat intelligence, enhance cybersecurity infrastructure, and foster a unified approach to creating a resilient digital environment.
CCITR, a PPP Model
To put in place an institutionalized structure for an effective capacity building of cybercrime investigations, the CID Karnataka, in collaboration with Infosys Foundation and Data Security Council of India (DSCI), set up the Centre for Cybercrime Investigation Training & Research (CCITR) at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters, Bengaluru, in 2019. CCITR is one of its kind of public-private partnership aimed at improving the investigation and prosecution of cybercrime cases. As part of this collaboration, DSCI plays the role of knowledge partner and Infosys Foundation as the funding partner.
This centre has been instrumental in combatting cybercrimes through training, research, and collaboration. The Centre continue to contribute significantly to the Karnataka Police’s efforts to train police, prosecution, judiciary and other departments in handling technology investigations and create standard operating procedures (SOPs) in cybercrime investigations.
Among the key objectives of CCITR is supporting the police, prosecution, and judiciary in handling technology investigations. It develops capabilities and cooperates within the public and private sectors. It is tasked with developing of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in Cyber Crime Investigations, besides conducting research in digital forensics and cybercrime investigation. CCITR has the responsibility of fostering entrepreneurship for the development of essential cyber forensics products and solutions. It Collaboration with national and international organizations working in the Digital Forensics domain.
Key takeaways
The centre has also developed cybercrime investigation-related resource materials like Cybercrime Investigation Manual, Handbook on Digital Evidence, and research papers on the Dark web and anti-forensics, Drone forensics and RAID forensics.
As of December, 2024, CCITR has trained over 46,400 personnel from police, prosecution, judiciary and others in long and short courses. CCITR adopted virtual training and other activities during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021. The workshops on “Cyberlaw & Cybercrimes” for 1067 judicial officers of the rank of district and sessions judge, senior civil judge, and civil judge were carried out with the support of Karnataka Judicial Academy Bengaluru.
Establishment of CCITR as an institutionalised mechanism for effectively building the capacity and infrastructure for handling cybercrime investigations under PPP model has helped the stakeholders of criminal justice system like Police, Prosecution and Judiciary in digital investigation, appreciation of digital evidences, developing new strategies, collaboration and technological advancements to provide justice to the victims of cybercrimes. Similar PPP initiatives will go a long way in preventing / containing cybercrimes and building safer societies.
Key benefits to public and government-
Enhancing public online safety
Through regular capacity-building programmes on cybercrime investigation techniques & digital forensics at CCITR, police are equipping themselves with the latest modus operandi adopted by cyber criminals. CCITR has initiated ‘Cybercrime Awareness’ campaign through social media channels with the motive of educating the public.
Confidence in the judicial system
The CCITR contribute through regular capacity-building programs conducted for judicial officers and prosecutors on cyberlaw and cybercrimes. This sensitises the judiciary in appreciation of digital evidence, speeding up the trial, and deciding the cases.
Career-building opportunities
Through the Cyber Law and Policy Hackathon and internship programme, the CCITR is educating students from engineering and law backgrounds on the various challenges faced by Law Enforcement. Encouraged to research to provide meaningful solutions. This results in improving the cybercrime investigation and indirectly, attempting to provide justice to the victims.
Knowledge sharing among agencies
The publications and research papers released by CCITR, and the creation of a telegram group consisting of trained Law Enforcement are acting as a platform to address the queries raised during the investigation and digital forensic analysis. This is contributing towards speeding up of investigation and increasing the possibility of providing justice to the victim at a faster pace.
The author is Director General of Police, Criminal Investigation Department.
Published – January 29, 2025 09:00 am IST
