eEvidence

Dr Ian WaldenInstitute of Computer and Communications Law,

Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary, University of London

Baker & McKenzie

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Introductory RemarksIntroductory Remarks

Why should we be interested?– to enforce rights (civil law)– to regulate activities/actors (administrative law) – to protect society (criminal law)

Evidential Issues– admissibility– probative value

Electronic Evidence Model Law– Commonwealth Technology Model Laws– UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce (1996), Art.

9

Electronic Evidence Model LawElectronic Evidence Model Law

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Interpretation (Article 2)Interpretation (Article 2)

‘Data’– not necessarily information

‘Electronic record’– ‘computer system or other similar device’

– ‘can be read or perceived’ Computer and Computer Related Crimes Bill, art. 13(1)(d):

‘intelligible’

‘Electronic record systems’ ‘Legal proceedings’

– civil, criminal or administrative

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AdmissibilityAdmissibility

Common law and civil law systems– investigative v adversarial

Real or hearsay– Sophocleous v Ringer [1988] R.T.R. 52– e.g. UK: Criminal Justice Act 2003

‘business’ documents

Special rules for computer-derived?– Article 3

“..on the sole ground that it is an electronic record..”

– UK: omnia praesumuntur rite esse acta

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Probative valueProbative value

Article 5, Authentication– Link person/material test

e.g. Caffrey (2003)

– Computer source test <A HREF..>, <IMG SRC...>

– Accountability Acquisition test

– e.g. Lotus ScreenCam Chain of custody test

Evidential presumptions?– e.g. banker’s books, copyright ©

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‘‘Best Evidence’ RuleBest Evidence’ Rule

Article 6– proof of the integrity of the electronic record system

– printout

UNCITRAL, art. 9(1)(b)– “if it is the best evidence that the person adducing it could

reasonably be expected to obtain, on the grounds that it is not in its

original form.”

UK Law– “The time has now come when it could be said with confidence that

the best evidence rule, long on its deathbed, has finally expired” (Springsteen v Flute International (2001)

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IntegrityIntegrity

Article 7, Presumption of integrity– (a) ‘operating properly’

at ‘material times’ UK: Civil Evidence Act 1968, s. 5

– (b) adverse party

– (c) person not party to the proceedings “...recorded or stored in the usual and ordinary course of

proceedings…”

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‘‘Operating Properly’Operating Properly’ Scope

– Shephard [1992] 1 All ER 225

Networks– Cochrane (1993) CLR 48

Improper use – ex parte Levin [1996] 3 WLR 657

– Computer and Computer Related Crimes Bill, art. 20

Material time – Connolly v Lancashire County Council (1994) RTR 79

Not operating properly – DPP v McKeown & Jones [1997] 1 WLR. 295

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Role of StandardsRole of Standards

Article 8, Standards– re: admissibility

E.g. BSI BIP 0008: 2004– Code of Practice for Legal admissibility and evidential

weight of information stored electronically Information management policy Duty of care Procedures and processes Enabling technologies Audit trails

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AdmissibilityAdmissibility

Article 11– “...expressly agreed at any time…”

e.g. contractual agreement

– limitation re: criminal proceedings

Article 12– electronic signatures

– verification purpose

Other IssuesOther Issues

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Forensics: Obtaining DataForensics: Obtaining Data

Intangible nature of evidence– difficult to obtain – vulnerable to challenge

retrieval, analysis, presentation

Source– claimant, defendant, third-party (e.g. ISP)– stored (e.g. search & seizure ) or in transmission (e.g.

interception)

New powers– Computer and Computer Related Crimes Bill

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Moving EvidenceMoving Evidence

Issues of Mutual Legal Assistance– Convention-based, Commonwealth scheme

In respect of proceedings or an investigation – from abroad

admissibility issues ‘specialty’ principle

– from here ‘dual criminality’ principle applicable where it involves the

use of search and seizure powers Computer and Computer Related Crimes Bill, art. 15,

Production of data

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DisclosureDisclosure

Duty to disclose– right of fair trial

– e.g. material generated during the investigation

Issues with computer-derived evidence– provision of copy or right of inspection

large volumes of material

– apply for permission not to disclose in the public interest e.g. “techniques and methods relied upon by a police officer in

the course of a criminal investigation..”

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Expert WitnessesExpert Witnesses

Duties– R v Reading Justices, ex parte South West Meat Ltd.

[1992] Crim LR 672

– UK: Criminal Justice Act 2003, s. 2

Reports and response reports Mutually agreed issues Use of analytical tools

– Golizadeh [1995] Crim LR 232

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– magistrates, crown

Terminology– agreed glossary of terms

Use of technology– ‘A Guide to the Electronic Presentation of Evidence

(EPE) at Trial (Court Service, July 2002)

Court PresentationCourt Presentation

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Concluding remarksConcluding remarks