ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE

Evidence is essential in any criminal justice case, and those involving terrorism are no exception. Evidence can be oral (witness statements), physical (fingerprints or shrapnel) or electronic (e-mails and text messages). However, properly identifying, collecting, documenting, preserving, and presenting these different types of evidence often proves challenging.

UNODC supports Member States with improving their capacity to manage evidence with a series of technical tools, training and mentoring services, and assisting co-ordination between relevant authorities.

Electronic Evidence

When using the internet and social media, terrorist groups leave a trail of electronic evidence that can be used to hold suspected terrorists to account. Electronic evidence, however, is very volatile. National authorities must cooperate closely and act collectively, to address the borderless, digital nature of the terrorist threat. However, many face obstacles in retrieving, preserving and sharing electronic evidence across borders. It can often be difficult to find the right points of contact at communications service providers or their counterparts in other countries.

Through the UN Global Initiative on Handling Electronic Evidence, which was launched together with UN Counter Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and International Association of Prosecutors (IAP), we are:

Leading the strengthening of public-private partnerships with Member States, international, regional and sub-regional organizations (such as Eurojust, Europol and the European Judicial Network) and communication service providers. UNODC brings together representatives from relevant authorities, as well as from communications service providers, such as Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft and TikTok.
Developing online practical tools and resources, such as the SHERLOC Electronic Evidence Hub, a brand-new, one-stop window that encompasses legislation, jurisprudence, the secure Practical Guide for Requesting Electronic Evidence across Borders, Data Disclosure Framework (DDF) and Model Request Forms for data preservation and disclosure
Providing training sessions to criminal justice authorities on the use electronic evidence to detect, investigate, attribute, and prosecute terrorism offenses, while respecting human rights standards.
Raising public awareness on key topics related to electronic evidence, including on the practices developed by internet service providers in responding to overseas government requests for data.

Learn more about the UN Global Initiative on Handling Electronic Evidence:

Visit the SHERLOC Electronic Evidence Hub
Download the Model Forms on Preservation and Disclosure of Electronic Data
Register to access the Practical Guide for Requesting Electronic Evidence
Have a look at the Data Disclosure Framework
Subscribe to UNODC Electronic Evidence Hub Play List on Youtube
Join a growing LinkedIn community of #electronicevidence professionals

Practical Guide

We support Member States with practical tools to facilitate the exchange of digital evidence. At the centre of our work is the Practical Guide for Requesting Electronic Evidence Across Borders. This is a step-by-step handbook for criminal justice officials to effectively obtain and utilise vital electronic evidence. It provides practitioners with best practices from experts in the field, legal procedures from States, and contact points, to assist practitioners on how to request and produce electronic evidence for investigation and prosecution at trial.

Donors

Our work on electronic evidence has been supported by contributions from the European Union, France, Germany, Japan, the UK and the U.S.

United Nations

Office on Drugs and Crime

ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE