The e-Zero FIR System for Cybercrimes

The e-Zero FIR System for Cybercrimes

#GS-2 #Governance & Social Justice #E-Governance #GS-3 #Science & Technology #Cyber Security #Current Events #National #Ministry of Home Affairs #BNSS 2023

Why in News

  • The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs informed Parliament about the rollout of the **e-Zero FIR system**.
  • The system is now functional across **18** States and Union Territories.
  • Police authorities have already registered more than **12,000** e-Zero FIRs through this digital initiative.

About the e-Zero FIR System

  • The **e-Zero FIR system** is a digital law enforcement framework that operates without territorial boundaries.
  • It automatically generates a First Information Report for reported cyber financial crimes regardless of location.

Institutional Nodal Body

  • The **Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C)** developed this system under the **Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)**.

Legal Alignment

  • The system relies on **Section 173(1)** of the **Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023**.
  • This legal provision allows citizens to submit information about cognizable offenses electronically from any location.

System Integration

  • The system connects with the **National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP)** and Helpline **1930**.
  • It integrates directly with state and union territory e-Crime police stations.
  • It links with the **Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS)** managed by the **National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)**.

Main Objectives

  • The system aims to speed up legal action against cybercriminals.
  • It removes police boundary issues and eliminates delays when citizens file complaints.
  • It enables the immediate freezing of stolen funds in bank accounts.
  • It helps return lost money quickly to victims of cyber financial fraud.

Key Features

  • Financial loss complaints on Helpline **1930** or the **NCRP** portal trigger automatic **e-Zero FIR** generation without visiting a station.
  • Central e-Crime stations transfer registered FIRs directly to the specific local cyber police station.
  • Victims must visit their local police station within **3 days** to complete verification and convert it into a regular FIR.
  • Instant e-FIR creation gives banks and police legal authority to place immediate liens on suspect accounts.

Significance

  • Citizens can file complaints instantly from anywhere, ending delays caused by police boundary disputes.
  • Quick account freezing through Helpline **1930** raises the chances of recovering defrauded money.