Index/Topics/Digital Evidence

Digital Evidence

The use of digital evidence in investigations

Fact-Checks

8 results
Jan 18, 2026
Most Viewed

How does federal law define 'possess' versus 'view' in child sexual abuse material cases?

Federal law treats images of sexually explicit conduct by minors as contraband and criminalizes production, distribution, receipt and possession of that material; by contrast the statute does not neat...

Jan 21, 2026

How have federal appellate courts ruled in major hyperlink and cloud‑storage child‑pornography cases since 2010?

have split along lines of technology and mens rea: circuits have generally upheld prosecutions based on hyperlinks and active stings while taking a more cautious approach where possession depends on ,...

Jan 20, 2026

How have viral unverified allegations historically influenced legal investigations into high‑profile abuse networks?

Viral, unverified allegations have a double-edged history: they can force stalled or covered-up abuse into formal inquiry, but they also reshape investigative priorities, encourage hasty classificatio...

Jan 11, 2026

What technical forensic evidence do prosecutors rely on to prove electronic possession of online images?

Prosecutors seeking to prove electronic possession of online images rely on a chain of technical artifacts—forensic disk and phone images, cryptographic file hashes, file-system and application metada...

Jan 11, 2026

What standards and forensic practices do prosecutors use to corroborate network logs in digital CSAM prosecutions?

Prosecutors corroborate network logs in digital CSAM prosecutions by treating logs as one piece of a multilayered evidentiary mosaic: creating forensically sound copies, aligning timestamps and metada...

Jan 11, 2026

What forensic methods are most commonly challenged in child pornography prosecutions and how have courts ruled on their reliability?

Digital forensic methods most frequently contested in child pornography prosecutions include automated identification software, metadata and file-attribution techniques, chain-of-custody and seizure p...

Jan 6, 2026

Can vpn usage by the suspect, even improper usage create evedentiary issues in csam downloaded by file site cases, or chain of cuatody problwms?

VPN use by a suspect can and often does create real investigative and evidentiary complications in CSAM cases: it obscures origin information, interacts with encryption and anonymizing tools used by o...

Jan 6, 2026

Are rotated logs one reason that csam Downloaders arent pursued

Rotated or transient logging—where system logs overwrite or age out data—can and does impede specific digital forensics trails, but it is only one factor among many that make pursuing CSAM downloaders...