Section 14 IT Act: Secure electronic record
Information Technology Act, 2000
Section 14 IT Act at a Glance
Section 14 IT Act states when an electronic record is legally treated as a secure electronic record, from the specific time a security procedure is applied until verification.
Section 14 IT Act Bare Act Text
14. Secure electronic record.
Where any security procedure has been applied to an electronic record at a specific point of time, then such record shall be deemed to be a secure electronic record from such point of time to the time of verification.
Section 14 IT Act in Simple Words
Section 14 IT Act defines when an electronic record gains the legal status of a secure electronic record. Under Section 14 IT Act, where any security procedure has been applied to an electronic record at a specific point of time, that record is deemed (treated by law) to be a secure electronic record.
Section 14 IT Act also fixes the exact time window of that legal status: the electronic record is deemed to be a secure electronic record from the specific point of time when the security procedure was applied up to the time of verification. Section 2 IT Act defines the Act's terms, including "electronic record", while Section 13 IT Act governs the time and place of despatch and receipt of electronic records and Section 15 IT Act defines when an electronic signature is deemed a secure electronic signature.
When Section 14 IT Act Applies
- Application of a security procedure: a security procedure must have been applied to an electronic record under Section 14 IT Act.
- Specific point of time: the security procedure must have been applied at a specific point of time.
- Duration of secure status: the electronic record is deemed to be a secure electronic record from that specific point of time to the time of verification.
Example of Section 14 IT Act
When Section 14 IT Act Does Not Apply
- No security procedure applied at a specific point of time: Section 14 IT Act deems an electronic record to be a secure electronic record only where a security procedure has been applied to that electronic record at a specific point of time.
- Time span outside application to verification: Section 14 IT Act confers deemed status as a secure electronic record specifically from the point of time when the security procedure was applied to the time of verification.
FAQs on Section 14 IT Act
What is Section 14 IT Act?▼
Section 14 IT Act sets out when an electronic record counts in law as a secure electronic record. Where any security procedure is applied to an electronic record at a specific point of time, the record is deemed to be a secure electronic record from that point of time until verification.
From when is an electronic record treated as a secure electronic record under Section 14 IT Act?▼
From the specific point of time when the security procedure is applied to the electronic record. That deemed status continues under Section 14 IT Act up to the time of verification.
Does Section 14 IT Act apply if no security procedure has been applied to an electronic record?▼
No. Section 14 IT Act deems an electronic record to be a secure electronic record only where a security procedure has been applied to it at a specific point of time.
How does Section 14 IT Act differ from Section 15 IT Act?▼
Section 14 IT Act covers when an electronic record is deemed a secure electronic record, whereas Section 15 IT Act covers when an electronic signature is deemed a secure electronic signature.
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Sources: Bare Act Text, Information Technology Act, 2000 ·