New Delhi: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah addressed the first Foundation Day program of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) as the Chief Guest at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi today. He launched key initiatives for the prevention of cyber crime, including the Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC), the Samanvay platform (Joint Cyber Crime Investigation Facilitation System), the 'Cyber Commandos' programme, and the Suspect Registry. The new logo, vision, and mission of I4C were also unveiled.

In his address, Amit Shah emphasised that I4C was established in 2015 under the ‘Safe Cyber Space’ campaign on the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Since then, it has evolved into a crucial pillar of cyber security in India. He highlighted that development cannot proceed without strong cyber security, which now extends beyond the digital world to become a vital aspect of national security. Platforms like I4C are key in addressing cyber threats, and effective collaboration among all stakeholders is essential.

Four major cyber platforms of I4C were launched today: the Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC), which brings together banks, financial institutions, telecom companies, Internet Service Providers, and law enforcement for a coordinated approach to preventing cyber crime; the Samanvay platform, which provides a data repository and facilitates coordination among law enforcement agencies; the Cyber Commandos programme, aimed at training around 5,000 cyber commandos over the next five years; and the Suspect Registry, a national-level registry to strengthen fraud risk management.

Amit Shah also announced the start of a public awareness campaign, leveraging TV channels, radio FM channels, cinema halls, and other platforms to educate the public about cyber crime prevention and the 1930 helpline. He urged state governments to join this campaign and enhance awareness in both urban and rural areas.

He noted that as of March 2024, India’s internet users have increased to 95 crores, and digital transactions have surged. With this growth, the need for effective cyber security measures has never been greater. Amit Shah praised I4C for its efforts and achievements over the past nine years and outlined future goals, including expanding awareness and improving cyber security infrastructure.

The Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC) will serve as a model of cooperative federalism in law enforcement. The Samanvay platform will facilitate data sharing and coordination. The Cyber Commandos programme will provide trained personnel to combat cyber threats, and the Suspect Registry will enhance fraud risk management. /BI