Internet started way back in 1960's as ARPANET which was built by US Department of Defense. Internet is inter-networking of two or more computers to share information. The internet was revolutionized in 1980's when Tim Berners-lee Introduced World Wide Web and he also carried out the first successful communication between a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) client and server via the Internet in 1989. "Two- thirds of world's Internet users are from developing world. Globally, there are 4 billion people not yet using the Internet and more than 90 % of them are from the developing world", says the 2014 ICT facts and figures of International Telecommunications Union. Though plausibly contradicting, the figures with Indian position are only positively astonishing. With a population of 5,000,000 users in the year 2000, India has crossed over 195,248,950 internet users by the end of 2013. Now, India is world's third largest internet user after the U.S and China. Today, internet is an equitable necessary facility to all of its users available on reasonable rates and ratios. Thus the future of Internet in India, though secured or not, is but only showing tempting corroboration.
Internet is a Tool, a Blessing, which could be used to the greatest of the benefits; if used with responsibility, safety, enough precaution & supervision. On the other hand, could prove Destructive, harmful (in terms of personal Loss of Data & Information) and wasteful (wastage of Time, Money etc.) on the contrary.
Initiated under a program by DARPA (NASA) for storage, sharing and Reuse of data by the American Defence agencies, Internet has been hailed as 'one of the biggest discoveries of Human Kind'. More than fulfilling the above requirements, it has given the human kind, a way of Storage of Data, Sharing of Knowledge; by means of information saved in Digital Space (Servers).Internet has made knowledge available to all. It has easy accessibility, & is economically & otherwise viable; thanks to the Leap in Science & Technology. From the Days, when it was seen as a resource of the rich; with the advent of Science & Technology, it has proven to be a Resource for all, thereby reducing disparities, & increasing the flow of Information. Internet has enabled sharing of data& Information virtually defying Boundaries, thereby leading to a more connected world; a world that cares for the issues, thousands of miles away, separated by geographical boundaries, but held together by means of information shared over the "Optical Fiber."Internet as a Technology has enabled marginally sided, poor & downtrodden people get information. Information leads to Empowerment. We have seen poor students, devoid of means, getting benefitted by internet and pursuing their dreams of attaining knowledge, even with meager resources. None can deny the role of Internet in the research works & other advancements in Technology, by providing students and researchers a common Platform to share news, views & issues; i.e. data & information. Emancipation and Humanitarian Advancement is yet another aspect and contribution of the Internet as Technology which has revolutionized the Society. Now people at the Remotest of the places can also think to access best of Medical attention and care by means of Telemedicine. Video Chats have made us feel more connected, and have helped in making connectivity during times of need, like a natural calamity easier. People at Remotest of places can access Online Education and receive Degrees from The Best of the Institutions by its use, thereby helping in universality of knowledge.
However, "With Great Power, comes Great Responsibility", & here it is preventing misuse and abuse of the Technology. With Technological advancement, flip sides are associated; & here in this case, it is multi-faceted. The extent could be minor, or in fact, catastrophic
Cloud Computing is the present state of the art of internet and its growing at a rapid pace, companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Dropbox, Google and many more are spending hard to provide cloud services in much better and reliable way. Cloud Storage is kind of storage where data is stored on the internet(cloud), to make it simple think of a Hard Drives in our personal computer like Local Disk C. We store our data in C disk and can access it from our computer only , in Cloud storage you store the data on a disk created by the companies known as Data Centers and maintain your data. You only pay for the storage you actually use but the advantage of this kind of storage is that you can access it from anywhere anytime all you need is internet and your login id and password,
"Access" is the keyword of Internet usage, which is what with its users have found utility for. Internet in India has opened easy access routes to vital service platforms including education, commerce and information technology. However, to induce development of the nation, the transactions via internet has to be suitably regulated with law. The rates of fraud, offences and crime within internet activities are also alarming in India. Cyber law awareness as well is a concern of lesser interest for internet users in India. Unlike in the conventional modes of data communication & transaction, potential threats are more probable through internet. Most of the existing safeguards under the current legal framework lack professional touch of expertise.
.Attack on Privacy and Intimacy :
Leakage of Information may lead to attack on intimacy and privacy of an individual or an organization. We have witnessed increasing cases of suicides, deaths and Youth going in depression; just because of suppression of our right; made vulnerable by Internet. Internet may lead to making people vulnerable to crimes caused by leakage of personal data, as seen in case of leaked videos, images, professional and personal information etc. on the web.
Increase in Cyber Crimes & Frauds:
With increasing use of Technology and more intrusion of Internet into our personal information, there has been an unprecedented jump in Cyber related Crimes; and Frauds related to economic matters. Other cyber-crime include hacking of personal information and data, spreading of Rumors, killing of individual identity by means of defamation etc. having very long term effects on individuals, societies and/or countries in some cases. In a recent event, we saw, fake and fraudulent propaganda videos shared on social media leading to mass violence in many parts of India.
Wastage :
Internet, apart from being a resource, is a Technology; and hence its usefulness totally depends upon the matureness of the user. It is an Ocean of Knowledge; but an un-resourceful and un-inhibited use leading to abuse, may cause wastage of time & money. Similarly all sorts of information are available, without censorship; and hence it is the children, who become vulnerable to wrong data. Hence selectivity and Censorship of data is another big issue.
However, Internet as a resource, has proved its mettle and worth as a resource, and acts as a unifying force, providing equal opportunities, irrespective of geographical boundaries, caste, creed, socio-economic status; for access of information and knowledge; leading to the development of an individual, a society, state or a country; its wasteful use has its own perils; which diversify from personal data & monetary loss, to loss of lives; even leading to war on cyber-space as well as creating administrative emergencies. As a boon it is helping create a parallel world devoid of barriers, based on the principles of e-governance, helping third world countries and developing nations come at par with the developed ones; with minimal resources, & hence providing an opportunity to enhance the standards of knowledge and touching the Lives of millions in the process.
Social networking is the one of the biggest achievements of internet. The social networking sites like Facebook, Yahoo etc have made this whole world like a family. Such sites are also helping people in finding their life partners. Hence these sites have become best friends of modern man.
Social networking is a parallel plot for internet utility to E-Commerce in India. A report on social media in India by the internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and Indian Market Research Bureau (IMRB) indicates that the number of social media users in urban India reached 62 million by December 2012. This rising internet corroboration is now easily possible with the affordability of smart phones. True, technological advancement is the foremost factor which sustains a developed nation. However, the channelization of internet utility is not utterly productive in India due to technological enslavement. This requires change in attitude of the users.
Social Media and Mobile Internet Use among Teens and Young Adults :
The rage of social media is such that now-a-days many people when they do not get the desired attention they seek, it leads to depression in them ultimately which leads to suicide as they feel that they have lost their respect. Many youngster and adults constantly keep on updating what they are doing or where they are. Due to which they fall prey to scams as the scammers already know what the individual is up to. (E.g.) When a group of young girls plan a party at a location far away from their house and update their status or plan about the event online they do not know that this information is open for anyone to read. Due to which they fall prey to dangers such as kidnapping. As we all know that there is no proper restriction to adult content on internet due to which many children and underage youngsters are also able to access it. Due to which many of them become sexually active thus leading to early pregnancy and resulting in population explosion and many times rape also. Many people fall prey to hacking which is done on internet which results to their personal data being stolen and sometimes leaked online. This also leads to suicide among people as they cannot bear the burden of their personal life being exposed. A recent case can be seen that the I-cloud server was hacked due to which many celebrities lost their personal photos and videos in which they were captured nude. Through internet one can also learn how to make a bomb. Even the regular detergent can be used as a bomb this idea can be seen on the internet.
Facebook, Google plus, Twitter, Linkedin are names of very famous social networking sites. In addition to those, there are many more social networking sites through which people of similar interest and taste can connect and come together virtually. It has replaced letters and telegrams as means to contact. They provide wonderful way to keep in touch not only with current friend families but also long lost friends. We can make new friends also, and that too worldwide. People can upload personal information's, pictures to share with their friends. Friends can also convey their support by liking comments or pictures or status. Be it story book lovers, job aspirant and HR, technocrats, movie buffer, study groups, all can be in touch.
Political parties, educational institutions, newspapers, police all have handles or accounts in these sites to 'e-connect' with people. People can organise events and can attract attention to any important issues. Social media is now an important avenue to express and create mass views. Our fundamental right, freedom of expression, got huge boost with these social networking sites. From uproar about VC issue in Jadavpur University to Nirbhaya issue in woman security ,from climate change issues to mars orbital mission, from icebucket challenge to simple gossip, people use these sites for all of these multifarious purposes. Our honourable prime minister and other world leaders use twitter to connect with people.
The real time information sharing has helped to reduce adverse effects of many natural calamity. They also provide opportunity to play games, to chat, to advertise and also to find our soul mate. People are getting high paid job in these companies. The spectrum of these sites provide immense advantages which are continuously being harnessed by the people throughout the world.
But the dangers of social networking sites are looming large. Main issues are Govt. inflicted harassment, spread of radicalising thougts, cyberbullying, privacy hijack, psychological complex etc.
Prof Ambikash Mahapatro got harassed for merely forwarding a caricature on West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.2 Women were arrested for protesting strike after Bal Thakrey's death in Maharashtra, which ultimately took a different shape altogether after the Supreme Court of India struck down Sec.66A Information Technology Act,2000 in Shreya Singhal Vs. Union of India.
Many terror groups like ISIS are also using these social sites to recruit people.Mehdi from Bangalore fell prey to it.Cyberbullying is taking a toll especially on children.Addiction to chatting and gaming is affecting students study.The trap of social sites are affecting the budding generation mostly.
Miscreants and hackers are using personal information uploaded by people to harass them.Fake ids have become a common nuisance.Celebrity as well as common people are vulnerable to privacy threats.
Excessive social networking affects psychology also.Number of likes in uploaded picture becomes matter of pride and reverse situation brings an inferiority complex.Face to face meeting have reduced also thus affecting our social life.Many people are committing suicide failing to cope up with psychological issues. Pornographic activities are being propelled by these sites.Govt. is also using its authoritarian propaganda to compel the sites to hand over data in the name of protecting security which may become a tool to disseminate any protest in a valid reason also.
Many nation and India also have resorted to blocking sites to avoid these problems. Recently India blocked many sites which created furore.But this mode of action may not be effective.Any tool is rendered nature by its usage.It is the people who render a service useful or disgraceful.Undoubtedly we need monitoring on cyber space and cyber laws in this respect are being implemented also. But the issue needs further care.People need to be aware about proper guidelines to use social networking site stop reap its maximum benefits.
Conclusion and Suggestion : Careful guidelines are the need of the day to convert the disadvantages to advantages.Parents can teach their children. People need to opt for certain securities like minimum sharing of personal data on net, keeping minimum contact with unknown persons, scheduling time to be on in social sites and not to waste time on it.Ultimately the values of people need to be guided to enable them to use the social sites properly.
The legal regulation of Internet activities in India should be a concern of priority for the Government. The I.T Act, 2000 is known for its lack of foundation as a beneficial piece of legislation. Though it defines many concepts in one spine, modeled from the UNCTITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce Transactions, it only pays little effort to encourage an environment to make laws regulating E-Commerce or internet activities to be transparent and effective. The Indian Contract Act, 1872, Indian Penal Code, 1860, The Consumer Protection Act, 1986, Law on Intellectual property and taxation etc has to be read alone for a comprehensive regulation of internet activities which makes the regulatory aspects scattered over pieces of legislation. In its current form, the IT Act is almost inadequate to perform as a comprehensive Cyber law of India. It is in the better interest of India that there be efforts to fashion the IT Act into a substantive Cyber law and thereby leveling itself to its global counterparts.
The difficulty to trace evidences and proving the genuineness of the same in courts has been a hindrance to lower the cyber crime rates in India. The expertise in operating hardware and software systems is also lacking in regulatory sectors. To overcome the hindrances, the need of the hour would be a collective action from all of the stake holders so as to cut out an effective techno-legal framework governing the productive internet activities.
One of the leading efforts to define future of the next generation internet is the "Internet2 Projects" which grew out of the transition of the NSFNET to the Very high speed Backbone Network Service (vBNS). The vBNS supported very high bandwidth research applications.
We know internet is source of utilitarian information but sadly it is also a source of virus which is considered as a severe disease of computer. At last, despite of its cons internet has proven boon for man but there is a lot which it has to achieve. Magical rays of this shining star are restricted to just 40% of world's population. This number urgently needs to grow. Internet users are facing resistance from language barrier. Only English known users can use internet easily, other languages just have their footprints. These problems and shown disadvantages need to fixed and then we will see internet transforming world into more resourceful world.
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