First Digital Agenda Assembly Of European Union

European Union (EU) has launched a very ambitious project titled Digital Agenda for Europe in the recent past. The European Commission launched in March 2010 the Europe 2020 Strategy to exit the crisis and prepare the EU economy for the challenges of the next decade. The Digital Agenda for Europe is one of the seven flagship initiatives of the Europe 2020 Strategy, set out to define the key enabling role that the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) will have to play if Europe wants to succeed in its ambitions for 2020.

The overall aim of the Digital Agenda is to deliver sustainable economic and social benefits from a digital single market based on fast and ultra fast internet and interoperable applications. The Digital Agenda makes proposals for actions that need to be taken urgently to get Europe on track for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Its proposals will set the scene for the longer-term transformations that the increasingly digital economy and society will bring about.

To achieve these goals, the Commission will work closely with national governments, concerned organisations and companies. An annual Digital Assembly will bring stakeholders together to assess progress and emerging challenges. The first Digital Agenda Assembly would be held during 16th and 17th June, 2011.

The main objectives of the Assembly are to assess progress to date on delivery towards the Digital Agenda's goals and actions and seek ways to improve delivery, identify challenges ahead for the implementation of the Digital Agenda and for the information society in general, mobilise stakeholders' actions to make further progress and address challenges.

The European Commission has therefore invited a broad range of participants from industry, the research community and NGOs, as well as representatives from Member State governments, and the other EU institutions to assess progress in meeting the targets of the Digital Agenda.

EU Sets Up Team Of Cyber Crimes Fighters

European Union has been taking cyber crimes very seriously. EU has recently proposed to enhance the minimum punishment for serious cyber crimes to five years and for non serious crimes to two years.

EU is also aware that besides a stringent law, it must also develop capabilities to fight cyber crimes. This is the reason why EU has set up a team of cyber crimes fighters to tackle growing cyber crimes in Europe.

Cyber attacks in Europe are increasing and recently 30 million euros' worth of carbon credits stolen by one such attack. The 10-strong team of IT security experts will guard against repeats of attacks on sensitive information, for example on the eurozone debt crisis, such as occurred on the eve of the last summit of national leaders in March.

Cyber-attacks are a very real and ever-increasing threat that can paralyse key infrastructure and cause huge long-term damage," said European Union digital agenda commissioner Neelie Kroes.

India on the other hand is soft upon cyber criminals. The information technology act 2000 of India, which is the sole cyber law of India, is not stringent and strong enough. After the information technology amendment act 2008, almost all the cyber crimes have been made bailable.

This has taken the sting and deterrent out of the cyber law of India. Some experts even have suggested repeal of the same and enactment of strong cyber law for India. Even on the front of policy India is not performing well. We have no cyber security policy in India and even the cyber crisis management policy of India is missing.

We urgently need to ensure strong and robust legal enablement of ICT systems in India. This enablement must include enablement of cyber law, cyber security, cyber forensics, etc. Like developed countries, India must also make its cyberspace safe and secure.