Web scraping, also known as web data extraction, refers to automatically collecting data from websites. This is commonly done by writing computer scripts to extract information from web pages. But is web scraping legal in India? Here's an overview of the legal landscape.
It Depends on Usage
Like many technologies, web scraping itself is not illegal. The legality depends on how the scraped data is used. Here are some guidelines:
What Do Sites' Terms & Conditions Say?
Most major websites prohibit scraping in their terms and conditions (T&Cs). For example:
"You shall not copy/download or re-utilize any content from the website using automated means such as spiders, robots, crawlers, etc."While T&Cs are not laws, violating them could lead to lawsuits or blocks. Play safe by reviewing T&Cs before scraping.
Other Legal Considerations
Other laws around data protection, computer intrusion, terms of service, etc. may apply to web scraping activities. Consult a lawyer for project-specific advice.
In summary, non-disruptive small-scale scraping of public data is generally allowed for personal use. Commercial scraping likely needs a site's permission as websites own their data. When in doubt, review a website's terms and conditions.