ADV. (DR.) PRASHANT MALI HONOURED WITH FCRF EXCELLENCE AWARD 2026 FOR CYBER LAW PRACTICE

NEW DELHI, August 2026 — The justice system is notoriously slow, often accused of trailing years behind the technology it seeks to regulate. But in the courtrooms of the Supreme Court and the Bombay High Court, that gap is steadily closing, largely due to practitioners who speak both the language of constitutional rights and forensic data.

Chief among them is Mumbai-based Adv. (Dr.) Prashant Mali, who was conferred the FCRF Excellence Award 2026 for Excellence in Cyber Law Practice. The award was presented by the Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF) at the FutureCrime Summit 2026, held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on August 6-7.

The annual summit brings together law enforcement leaders, researchers, regulators, and industry experts to map the future of digital justice. For Dr. Mali, the recognition cements his position as a crucial bridge between two disparate worlds. He is widely respected as a lawyer equally at home analyzing a forensic image as he is arguing a constitutional writ petition.

 "Recognition in cyber law is really recognition that the law is finally catching up to the technology," Dr. Mali noted upon receiving the award. "My work has always been to shorten that gap — for the courts, for clients, and for the ordinary citizen whose data is the real party in every data protection and cybercrime dispute."
 
A Career Built on Digital Defense
Dr. Mali’s practice spans more than two decades, evolving alongside the internet itself. From early cybercrime litigation to modern-day data protection and artificial intelligence compliance, his footprint on Indian jurisprudence is significant.
 
Here is a quick look at the milestones shaping his practice:
Institutional Leadership: He is the Founder and President of Cyber Law Consulting (Advocates & Attorneys) and Chairman of the Cyber & Law Foundation.
 
Pioneering AI Jurisprudence: He has authored eight books, including the widely downloaded open-source text, Seven AI Laws: The Future of Mankind, providing a much-needed framework for AI governance.
 
Democratizing Data Law: He created dpdpa.com, India’s principal public resource for navigating the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
 
Courtroom Advocacy: His broader practice covers extensive trial and appellate work across India, specializing in bail and defense in cybercrime matters, DPDPA compliance advisory, and complex electronic-evidence disputes.
 
The Human Element in Data
What makes Dr. Mali’s approach stand out in a highly technical field is his consistent focus on the human impact of digital laws. Whether providing commentary on BBC World, Bloomberg, Republic TV, CNN News 18, ET Now, or NDTV, he strips away the technical jargon to highlight how AI governance and digital policies directly affect personal liberty.
 
As cybercrimes grow more sophisticated and AI introduces unprecedented legal gray areas, the justice system requires advocates who understand the code as deeply as the law. This latest FCRF award is a clear acknowledgment that Adv. (Dr.) Prashant Mali continues to set the standard for that exact kind of practice.