Legal Archives - Forensic Focus

Forensic Focus Legal Update July 2021: Reliability And Credibility Of Digital Evidence

22nd February 202319th July 2021

This quarter’s edition of our legal update starts with a look at improving digital forensics experts’ credibility, as well as the reliability of the evidence they find — all while dealing with rapidly advancing technology. Two recent academic papers, plus… Read more

Forensic Focus Legal Update April 2021: Balancing Privacy And Investigation

22nd February 20236th April 2021

Privacy is a major theme in this quarter’s legal update, which covers the latest developments with the European Union’s ePrivacy Initiative, some new laws in the United States, recent court decisions, and law enforcement access to third-party data. We also… Read more

Forensic Focus Legal Update December 2020: Refining Search & Seizure; New Laws & Guidance

22nd February 202311th December 2020

The fourth quarter of 2020 has seen some significant legal developments when it comes to digital evidence. In this issue (which also happens to be the anniversary of the inaugural Forensic Focus Legal Update), we highlight: Search warrant reform in… Read more

25 Days, 25 Questions: Part 3 – Professional Digital Forensics Qualifications In Court

22nd February 202321st October 2020

Editor’s note: This article continues our four-part series written by Mr. Santosh Khadsare, our guest digital forensics expert from New Delhi, India, based upon his recent LinkedIn series, #25Days25Questions. Part 1 and Part 2 have been published. More about Mr.… Read more

Forensic Focus Legal Update September 2020: Evidence, Experts, And Due Diligence

22nd February 202328th September 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic slowed many of the gears in justice systems the world over, as courts postponed jury trials, experimented with virtual juries and hearings, and weighed prison conditions against public safety. But not even the passing of venerable United… Read more

Qualifying A Digital Forensic Expert In Court (Voir Dire)

22nd February 20234th September 2020

Most digital forensic practitioners possess an analytical mind. One of the reasons we become interested in the field is because we work to whittle down the digital elements of the case to try and present a clearer picture of the… Read more

Forensic Focus Legal Update: The COVID-19 Edition

22nd February 202325th May 2020

When employers worldwide instituted remote-work policies to help reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, the impact to entire criminal justice systems — from law enforcement to evidence processing through the courts — was profound. Digital evidence examiners in… Read more

Forensic Focus Legal Update December 2019 – Part II: Search And Seizure

22nd February 202320th December 2019

by Christa Miller In cooperation with the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C) and SEARCH, The National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics, Forensic Focus offers a quarterly roundup of the latest legal developments around digital forensic evidence. Comprising major… Read more

Forensic Focus Legal Update December 2019 – Part I

22nd February 202319th December 2019

by Christa Miller In cooperation with the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C) and SEARCH, The National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics, Forensic Focus is proud to offer a quarterly roundup of the latest legal developments around digital forensic… Read more

From Crime To Court: Review Principles For UK Disclosure

22nd February 20236th June 2019

by Hans Henseler UK Law Enforcement agencies are facing significant challenges related to digital evidence disclosure in criminal prosecution cases. Suspects who are charged with a crime must have access to all relevant evidence to ensure a fair trial, even… Read more

Facebook’s Privacy Manifesto: What Does It Mean For Digital Forensic Investigations?

22nd February 202316th May 2019

by Christa Miller, Forensic Focus Mark Zuckerberg’s new “privacy manifesto” for Facebook marks not just a pivot in terms of how the social network shapes modern-day communication. It also marks what The Verge’s Casey Newton called “the end of the… Read more

Opinion: Is ISO17025 The Right Standard For Digital Forensics?

22nd February 20233rd October 2018

by Rich2005 Standardisation is currently the subject of animated discussion among digital forensic examiners worldwide. In this opinion piece, Rich2005 looks at the challenges of the ISO17025 standard for digital forensics and why it might not be the best choice… Read more

Have Your Say In The House Of Lords’ Select Committee On Science And Technology

22nd February 202310th August 2018

Controversy has been raging around ISO 17025 ever since the standard was adopted for digital forensics back in October 2017. Although many people who work in the industry agree that standardisation is advisable and probably necessary if we are to… Read more

Changes To Forensic Laboratory Accreditation Requirements – ISO/IEC 17025

22nd February 202320th April 2018

by Tim Alcock ISO/IEC 17025:2017 – General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories is the principal international standard for the accreditation of laboratories performing testing (including sampling) and/or calibration. Originating from ISO/IEC Guide 25, the standard has… Read more

Law Enforcement Professionals Need to Evaluate Digital Forensics Practices Amid Looming Constitutional Showdown Regarding Digital Searches

22nd February 202316th March 2018

by L.E. “Ted” Wilson There is a fascinating constitutional showdown brewing in the U.S. that will have significant implications for how our law enforcement agencies are able to conduct digital investigations. The fundamental question at issue is whether the Fifth… Read more

Charlatans In Digital Forensics

22nd February 202326th January 2018

by James Zjalic There’s a topic that is rarely publicized in the world of digital forensics, but is well known to those within the field and stories are often traded between experts when they meet at conferences and conventions. That… Read more