PRESERVING EVIDENCE IN CYBERCRIME INVESTIGATIONS: CHALLENGES OF THE DIGITAL CHAIN OF CUSTODY

Abstract

The scope of this scientific article is to analyze the main challenges related to the preservation of evidence in cybercrimes, considering the growing integration of the digital environment into everyday society. The chain of custody, as a set of procedures intended to ensure the integrity of evidence, requires even greater caution in the digital environment, since the elements present therein are highly volatile. Therefore, the strict application of the chain of custody is essential for the credibility of the collected material. Although there are infra-legal normative sources that provide standards applicable to the chain of custody system, the Brazilian legal framework still lacks specific regulation. A bibliographic research was conducted, consisting of the survey and review of existing academic, scientific, and literary works on the subject. Based on the information obtained, a reflection was carried out to identify the weaknesses, advances, and perspectives of digital evidence preservation in relation to the application of the chain of custody.