In evidence law, digital evidence or electronic evidence is any probative information stored or transmitted in digital form that a party to a court case may use at trial.

The Best Evidence Rule is a legal principle that requires presenting the most reliable form of evidence in court, which is often the original document or file. In cases where digital evidence is involved, this means presenting the original digital file, rather than a printout or a copy. However, proving the authenticity and integrity of digital evidence can be challenging, as it is relatively easy to manipulate digital files and metadata. Therefore, establishing a clear chain of custody and demonstrating that the evidence presented is unchanged from its original state is crucial. To address this issue, commercial software technology solutions have been developed to preserve digital evidence in its original form and authenticate it for admissibility in court disputes.

UK ACPO guidelines

In the United Kingdom, examiners usually follow guidelines issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) for the authentication and integrity of evidence.

  • George Holliday's video of Rodney King's beating by the LAPD
  • The shooting of Neda Agha-Soltan
  • BART Police shooting of Oscar Grant
  • Death of Ian Tomlinson
  • Killing of Robert Dziekański
  • Death of Eric Garner

See also

  • Electronic discovery
  • Body worn video (police equipment)
  • Closed-circuit television
  • Copwatch
  • Direct evidence
  • Electronic_evidence
  • Police misconduct#Recording
  • Videre
  • Viral video#Police misconduct
  • Witness (organization)
  • :Category:Video surveillance

References

  • Digital Evidence: Standards and Principles
  • The Digital Evidence in the Information Era
  • Video as Evidence: A WITNESS guide for citizens, activists, and lawyers