'Sec 135AA aimed at hackers of commercially sensitive trade-related data'

'By selling commercially sensitive information, the hackers adversely impact the competitive position of Indian exporters in international trade,' says Revenue Secretary

The Finance Ministry has proposed a new section, 135AA, in the Customs Act, on request of importers and exporters, Revenue Secretary Tarun Bajaj told Business Standard, and added that the provision is aimed at ‘bad state actors’ and ‘hackers’ who illicitly mine commercially identifying and sensitive information and are engaged in selling transactional information.

“A number of websites have been identified by the CBIC who are selling data containing the name of exporter/importer, description of goods, quantity, value, classification etc. By selling commercially sensitive information, including the names of importers and exporters, they adversely impact the competitive position of Indian