Centre Proposes New Bills for Criminal Law
Introduction
Criminal justice in India is majorly governed by three laws which are – Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and Indian Evidence Act. The centre, on 11th August 2023’ Friday, proposes a new bill in parliament Friday, which is replacing the country’s major criminal laws, i.e. Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and Indian Evidence Act.
The following three bills are being proposed to replace major criminal laws in the country:
- The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023 to replace Indian Penal Code 1860.
- The Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, 2023, to replace The Code Of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
- The Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023, to replace The Indian Evidence Act 1872.
Cyber law-oriented view of the new shift in criminal lawNotable changes:Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023 Indian Penal Code 1860.
Way ahead for digitalisation
The new laws aim to enhance the utilisation of digital services in court systems, it facilitates online registration of FIR, Online filing of the charge sheet, serving summons in electronic mode, trial and proceedings in electronic mode etc. The new bills also allow the virtual appearance of witnesses, accused, experts, and victims in some instances. This shift will lead to the adoption of technology in courts and all courts to be computerised in the upcoming time.
Enhanced recognition of electronic records
With the change in lifestyle in terms of the digital sphere, significance is given to recognising electronic records as equal to paper records.
Conclusion
The criminal laws of the country play a significant role in establishing law & order and providing justice. The criminal laws of India were the old laws existing under British rule. There have been several amendments to criminal laws to deal with the growing crimes and new aspects. However, there was a need for well-established criminal laws which are in accordance with the present era. The step of the legislature by centralising all criminal laws in their new form and introducing three bills is a good approach which will ultimately strengthen the criminal justice system in India, and it will also facilitate the use of technology in the court system.
Related Blogs
AI systems have grown in both popularity and complexity on which they operate. They are enhancing accessibility for all, including people with disabilities, by revolutionising sectors including healthcare, education, and public services. We are at the stage where AI-powered solutions that can help people with mental, physical, visual or hearing impairments perform everyday and complex tasks are being created.
Generative AI is now being used to amplify human capability. The development of tools for speech-to-text and image recognition is helping in facilitating communication and interaction for visually or hearing-impaired individuals, and smart prosthetics are providing tailored support. Unfortunately, even with these developments, PWDs have continued to face challenges. Therefore, it is important to balance innovation with ethical considerations aand ensuring that these technologies are designed with qualities like privacy, equity, and inclusivity in mind.
Access to Tech: the Barriers Faced by PWDs
PWDs face several barriers while accessing technology. Identifying these challenges is important as they lack computer accessibility, in the use of hardware and software, which has become a norm in life nowadays. Website functions that only work when users click with a mouse, self-service kiosks without accessibility features, touch screens without screen reader software or tactile keyboards, and out-of-order equipment, such as lifts, captioning mirrors and description headsets, are just some difficulties that they face in their day-to-day life.
While they are helpful, much of the current technology doesn’t fully address all disabilities. For example, many assistive devices focus on visual or mobility impairments, but they fall short of addressing cognitive or sensory conditions. In addition to this, these solutions often lack personalisation, making them less effective for individuals with diverse needs. AI has significant potential to bridge this gap. With adaptive systems like voice assistants, real-time translation, and personalised features, AI can create more inclusive solutions, improving access to both digital and physical spaces for everyone.
The Importance of Inclusive AI Design
Creating an Inclusive AI design is important. It ensures that PWDs are not excluded from technological advancements because of the impairments that they are suffering from. The concept of an ‘inclusive or universal’ design promotes creating products and services that are usable for the widest possible range of people. Tech Developers have an ethical responsibility to create advancements in AI that serve everyone. Accessibility features should be built into the core design. They should be treated as a practice rather than an afterthought. However, bias in AI development often stems from data of a non-representative nature, or assumptions can lead to systems that overlook or poorly serve PWDs. If AI algorithms are trained on limited or biased data, they risk excluding marginalised groups, making ethical, inclusive design a necessity for equity and accessibility.
Regulatory Efforts to Ensure Accessible AI
In India, the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016 impresses upon the need to provide PWDs with equal accessibility to technology. Subsequently, the DPDP Act of 2023 highlights data privacy concerns for the disabled under section 9 to process their data.
On the international level, the newly incorporated EU’s AI Act mandates measures for transparent, safe, and fair access to AI systems along with including measures that are related to accessibility.
In the US, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 508 of the 1998 amendment to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are the primary legislations that work on promoting digital accessibility in public services.
Challenges in implementing Regulations for AI Accessibility for PWDs
Defining the term ‘inclusive AI’ is a challenge. When working on implementing regulations and compliance for the accessibility of AI, if the primary work is left undefined, it makes the task of creating tools to address the issue an issue. The rapid pace of tech and AI development has more often outpaced legal frameworks in development. This leads to the creation of enforcement gaps. Countries like Canada and tech industry giants like Microsoft and Google are leading forces behind creating accessible AI innovations. Their regulatory frameworks focus on developing AI ethics with inclusivity and collaboration with disability rights groups.
India’s efforts in creating an inclusive AI include the redesign of the Sugamya Bharat app. The app had been created to assist PWDs and the elderly. It will now be incorporating AI features specifically to assist the intended users.
Though AI development has opportunities for inclusivity, unregulated development can be risky. Regulation plays a critical role in ensuring that AI-driven solutions prioritise inclusivity, fairness, and accessibility, harnessing AI’s potential to empower PWDs and contribute to a more inclusive society.
Conclusion
AI development can offer PWDs unprecedented independence and accessibility in leading their lives. The development of AI while keeping inclusivity and fairness in mind is needed to be prioritised. AI that is free from bias, combined with robust regulatory frameworks, together are essential in ensuring that AI serves equitably. Collaborations between tech developers, policymakers, and disability advocates need to be supported and promoted to build AI systems. This will in turn work towards bridging the accessibility gaps for PWDs. As AI continues to evolve, maintaining a steadfast commitment to inclusivity will be crucial in preventing marginalisation and advancing true technological progress for all.
References
- https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/over-1-4k-accessibility-related-complaints-filed-on-govt-app-75-solved-124090800118_1.html
- https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2023/06/16/empowering-individuals-with-disabilities-through-ai-technology/ .
- https://hbr.org/2023/08/designing-generative-ai-to-work-for-people-with-disabilities
- Thehttps://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2018/05/07/using-ai-to-empower-people-with-disabilities/andensur,personalization
Introduction
The recent inauguration of the Google Safety Engineering Centre (GSEC) in Hyderabad on 18th June, 2025, marks a pivotal moment not just for India, but for the entire Asia-Pacific region’s digital future. As only the fourth such centre in the world after Munich, Dublin, and Málaga, its presence signals a shift in how AI safety, cybersecurity, and digital trust are being decentralised, leading to a more globalised and inclusive tech ecosystem. India’s digitisation over the years has grown at a rapid scale, introducing millions of first-time internet users, who, depending on their awareness, are susceptible to online scams, phishing, deepfakes, and AI-driven fraud. The establishment of GSEC is not just about launching a facility but a step towards addressing AI readiness, user protection, and ecosystem resilience.
Building a Safer Digital Future in the Global South
The GSEC is set to operationalise the Google Safety Charter, designed around three core pillars: empowering users by protecting them from online fraud, strengthening government cybersecurity and enterprise, and advancing responsible AI in the platform design and execution. This represents a shift from the standard reactive safety responses to proactive, AI-driven risk mitigation. The goal is to make safety tools not only effective, but tailored to threats unique to the Global South, from multilingual phishing to financial fraud via unofficial lending apps. This centre is expected to stimulate regional cybersecurity ecosystems by creating jobs, fostering public-private partnerships, and enabling collaboration across academia, law enforcement, civil society, and startups. In doing so, it positions Asia-Pacific not as a consumer of the standard Western safety solutions but as an active contributor to the next generation of digital safeguards and customised solutions.
Previous piloted solutions by Google include DigiKavach, a real-time fraud detection framework, and tools like spam protection in mobile operating systems and app vetting mechanisms. What GSEC might aid with is the scaling and integration of these efforts into systems-level responses, where threat detection, safety warnings, and reporting mechanisms, etc., would ensure seamless coordination and response across platforms. This reimagines safety as a core design principle in India’s digital public infrastructure rather than focusing on attack-based response.
CyberPeace Insights
The launch aligns with events such as the AI Readiness Methodology Conference recently held in New Delhi, which brought together researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss ethical, secure, and inclusive AI implementation. As the world grapples with how to deal with AI technologies ranging from generative content to algorithmic decisions, centres like GSEC can play a critical role in defining the safeguards and governance structures that can support rapid innovation without compromising public trust and safety. The region’s experiences and innovations in AI governance must shape global norms, and the role of Tech firms in doing so is significant. Apart from this, efforts with respect to creating digital infrastructure and safety centres addressing their protection resonate with India’s vision of becoming a global leader in AI.
References
- https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/google-safety-engineering-centre-india-inaugurated-in-hyderabad/article69708279.ece
- https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/story/google-launches-safety-charter-to-secure-indias-ai-future-flags-online-fraud-and-cyber-threats-480718-2025-06-17?utm_source=recengine&utm_medium=web&referral=yes&utm_content=footerstrip-1&t_source=recengine&t_medium=web&t_content=footerstrip-1&t_psl=False
- https://blog.google/intl/en-in/partnering-indias-success-in-a-new-digital-paradigm/
- https://blog.google/intl/en-in/company-news/googles-safety-charter-for-indias-ai-led-transformation/
- https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/google-rolls-out-hyderabad-hub-for-online-safety-launches-first-indian-google-safety-engineering-centre/articleshow/121928037.cms?from=mdr
Executive Summary:
The video that allegedly showed cars running into an Indian flag while Pakistan flags flying in the air in Indian states, went viral on social media but it has been established to be misleading. The video posted is neither from Kerala nor Tamil Nadu as claimed, instead from Karachi, Pakistan. There are specific details like the shop's name, Pakistani flags, car’s number plate, geolocation analyses that locate where the video comes from. The false information underscores the importance of verifying information before sharing it.
Claims:
A video circulating on social media shows cars trampling the Indian Tricolour painted on a road, as Pakistani flags are raised in pride, with the incident allegedly taking place in Tamil Nadu or Kerala.
Fact Check:
Upon receiving the post we closely watched the video, and found several signs that indicated the video was from Pakistan but not from any place in India.
We divided the video into keyframes and found a shop name near the road.
We enhanced the image quality to see the shop name clearly.
We can see that it’s written as ‘Sanam’, also we can see Pakistan flags waving on the road. Taking a cue from this we did some keyword searches with the shop name. We found some shops with the name and one of the shop's name ‘Sanam Boutique’ located in Karachi, Pakistan, was found to be similar when analyzed using geospatial Techniques.
We also found a similar structure of the building while geolocating the place with the viral video.
Additional confirmation of the place is the car’s number plate found in the keyframes of the video.
We found a website that shows the details of the number Plate in Karachi, Pakistan.
Upon thorough investigation, it was found that the location in the viral video is from Karachi, Pakistan, but not from Kerala or Tamil Nadu as claimed by different users in Social Media. Hence, the claim made is false and misleading.
Conclusion:
The video circulating on social media, claiming to show cars trampling the Indian Tricolour on a road while Pakistani flags are waved, does not depict an incident in Kerala or Tamil Nadu as claimed. By fact-checking methodologies, it has been confirmed now that the location in the video is actually from Karachi, Pakistan. The misrepresentation shows the importance of verifying the source of any information before sharing it on social media to prevent the spread of false narratives.
- Claim: A video shows cars trampling the Indian Tricolour painted on a road, as Pakistani flags are raised in pride, taking place in Tamil Nadu or Kerala.
- Claimed on: X (Formerly known as Twitter)
- Fact Check: Fake & Misleading
