Use of digital forensics technologies as part of the legal public security mechanism to detect cyberthreats
Palavras-chave:
Digital Forensics, Cyber Threats, Cyber Threat Detection, Digital Evidence Admissibility, Chain of Custody, Criminal Procedure law, Public Security Governance, Forensic Integrity Verification, Cybercrime Investigation, AI-Assisted Forensic SystemsResumo
The study addresses the issue of the growing cyber threats as a factor undermining public security. The existing legal frameworks lag behind the rapid evolution of cybercrime. This leaves state institutions vulnerable to sophisticated attacks. The aim of the article is to determine the role of digital forensics as a technical and evidentiary tool in strengthening the legal capacity of states to ensure security in cyberspace. Particular attention is paid to empirical materials obtained from the analysis of case studies of cyber investigations. The practice of law enforcement agencies is also taken into account. The research employed the following methods: doctrinal legal analysis, comparative analysis of national and international legal practice, as well as a critical review of forensic technologies used in cyber investigations. The results showed that the effectiveness of public security systems depends on both technical excellence and legal adaptability. The study examined 300 digital case models from case law and reports of law enforcement agencies in the United States (USA), Germany, France, and Poland. The key factor is the regulation of digital evidence, its admissibility and the preservation of the chain of custody. Unlike many studies that focus on technical aspects or criminology only, this study emphasizes the legal dimension of forensic technologies. It emphasizes their dual function—as a means of detection and as a guarantee of procedural fairness.The findings confirmed that integrating digital forensics into criminal process standards increases the resilience of state institutions to cyber threats. It also strengthens the legitimacy of legal responses. Further research prospects include the development of harmonized international standards for processing digital evidence. Strengthening cross-border cooperation and the implementation of forensic technologies in preventive legal policies are also important areas.
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