According to Internet and Mobile association of India, Internet users in India will reach 500 million by the end of 2018. As, more and more Indians access the Internet, the security aspect of Internet of things will become and is becoming a major issue. Most of us have little or no clue about how to safely use the internet, we also completely oblivious about the darker side of internet and various ways through which we can get victimized online.
This is why Protector spoke to Dhanya Menon, one of the few Cyber crime investigators in India and the first woman cyber crime investigator. Menon studied cyber law way back in 2002. It was actually, P.B. Menon, her grandfather and a well known senior advocate of the Supreme Court pushed her to attend a workshop on cyber crime, she was hooked from the very beginning. She then went on to complete a certificate post-graduate diploma course in Cyber law and Intellectual property Rights in Cyberspace and became a faculty in Asian School of Cyber Law, Pune. Menon is also a recipient of the Presidential Award instituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Welfare, 2018. She is also a seasoned Kuchipudi and Mohiniattam dancer she has performed in more than 200 stage shows around the world.
Protector reached out to her through the medium of e-mail for an interview.
This is what ensued-
Protector- What is the work portfolio of a cyberspace investigator?
Menon – This covers every issue related to cyberspace. Whenever there is an illegal activity using cyberspace/ against cyberspace or both. I get to deal with both social and organizational issues.
Protector – How big of an impact your grandfather had in your decision to pursue cyber law?
Menon – It was never my choice or decision to pursue this field. In fact I did not know about this at all. It was completely my grandfather’s decision and his confidence. It is his belief in me that has pushed to what I am today.
Protector – What are the biggest threats on cyberspace today, according to you?
Menon – every issue is big for the person who is suffering. The biggest threat is the lack of awareness of the users of this space.
Protector – In case of a grievance, what are the remedies available to the victim?
Menon – Every issue or at least most of the issues on this space are of criminal nature. Hence the remedies are on the legal side itself. They should approach the law for a remedy and justice. It is here where most of the confusion prevails, thus people need to be made more aware.
Protector – As Indians and India becomes more and more connected, what does the future hold in terms of cyber security in both, individual and corporation level?
Menon – The future is full of possibilities, technology is not good or bad on its own, it’s the user who dictates its usage thus, it really dependant on the user than the technology itself.
Protector – Do you feel the existing laws are adequate to bring perpetrators to justice and what do you make of the decision taken by the Supreme Court to strike down 66A of the IT law.
Menon – Yes sure. Our law is quite effective given they are implemented properly and not misused. Asfar as 66A be concerned Striking down of 66A personally had affected many people in the wrong way. May be some rules and regulations in addition will he better helpful.
Protector – As a dancer, do you find any similarity or commonality between your professional life and your passion?
Menon – There is no similarity. The only thing common is that both make me happy and content but dancing helps me in better understanding of the situation. Makes me more human and compassionate too.
Protector – What advice would you like to give to the youth on cyberspace safety and internet of things in general?
Menon – Please learn the space understand and be aware of the possibilities and probabilities, it is better to be consciously less dependent on this technology. Use the technology and do not let this technology guide you.
Menon stated when she started her practice, she usually got around six to seven cases per day but now that number has skyrocketed around two hundred cases per day. Most of the cases Menon handle deals with Phising, obscenity, misuse of telephonic technology, pornography and visual morphing from porn sites, fake profiles and unauthorized disclosure of personal information on the internet.
By – as told to Subhajit Bhattacharya and Anubhav Chakraborty
