The Effect of Regulatory Requirements on Digital Evidence Handling in Cybercrime Investigations

Abstract

relevance of the issue under research is determined by the rapid growth of cybercrime and the need for effective use of digital evidence in the legal field. The aim of the study is to analyse existing approaches to the regulation of digital evidence handling in different jurisdictions and identify best practices that can be adapted into the national legal system. The research employed a comparative method for evaluating different legal approaches, analysis of the regulatory legal acts and international agreements, and a case study. The key results of the study were the identification of the high efficiency of jurisdictions that adhere to international standards, such as the Budapest Convention, as well as the importance of personal data protection in the General Data Protection Regulation. It was determined that international cooperation and the introduction of the latest technologies, such as blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI), significantly improve the quality of digital evidence handling. The significance of the obtained results is their potential for the adaptation of best practices in national legal systems, which will contribute to a more effective fight against cybercrime and the protection of human rights.