Identification, collection, and investigation of electronic imagery as sources of evidence

Abstract

Given the rapid pace of informatization of society, the number of criminal offences involving the use of computers, their software, as well as telecommunications systems is continuously growing. Such illegal actions are characterized by leaving traces, including electronic imagery. They can be evidence of the commission of criminal offences, which explains the development and improvement of methods for their detection, collection, and investigation by law enforcement agencies. However, today such methods of detecting, collecting, and investigating electronic imagery of evidence are separately contained in several scientific papers of Ukrainian and foreign scientists, which allowed comprehensively covering them in this study. The purpose of this study was to review the theory and practice of the activities of authorized entities for the detection, collection, and investigation of electronic imagery of evidence. The study uses a set of various methods, namely scientific cognition of real phenomena and their connections with the practical activities of authorized bodies for the detection, collection, and investigation of electronic imagery (dialectical method), as well as special and general scientific methods of legal science. The study showed as follows: usually, investigators and operational officers detect electronic imagery independently, or as part of an investigative task force during the investigation of criminal offences, or before their commission; the collection of electronic imagery occurs during procedural actions (usually law enforcement intelligence actions) both from technical devices with which a criminal offence was committed, and from those that were attacked. When extracting electronic imagery, it is advisable to involve a suitable specialist (if possible, a cyberpolice officer); an authorized investigator, specialist, and expert are authorized to examine electronic imagery. Expert research of electronic imagery belongs only to experts and is carried out using the following examinations: computer equipment and software products, telecommunications systems and tools, as well as technical and forensic examination of documents. The conducted review will help authorized practitioners restore the memory of knowledge about information about the tools for detecting, collecting, and investigating electronic imagery, which will ensure the effective implementation of the tasks of criminal proceedings