Practice area · digital searches and electronic evidence

Digital searches and electronic evidence.

Lawyer for digital searches and electronic evidence: the lawfulness of seizing devices and handling data, from the search to challenging it in court.

When you need us
01

Your phone, laptop or other devices have been seized

02

A digital search of your data has been ordered// art. 168 Criminal Procedure Code

03

You are asked for the password or PIN of a device

04

Conversations on WhatsApp, Telegram or Signal have been intercepted

How we work
/01

Rights

We establish what rights you actually have and what you can refuse at the time of the search.

/02

Lawfulness

We check the warrant, how items were seized, the sealing and the chain of custody of the data.

/03

Challenge

We seek the exclusion of evidence obtained in breach of procedure.

av. dr. George Zlati
George M.R. Zlati
Partner · white-collar crime & cybercrime · PhD in law
Author, Treatise on CybercrimeCited in binding ÎCCJ rulingsINM trainerVintilă Dongoroz Award 2020

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Frequently asked questions
What rights do I have during a digital search?

You have the right to assistance from a lawyer, to be informed of the scope of the search, and to challenge unlawful measures. Read the full guide.

Am I required to give my phone password?

Not automatically. There are limits tied to the privilege against self-incrimination. See the details on passwords and PINs.

Can messages from WhatsApp or Signal be used against me?

It depends on how they were obtained. Interception without valid authorisation can be challenged. See how interception of these apps works.

What does the chain of custody of electronic evidence mean?

It is the documented path of the data, from seizure to analysis. Any break in this chain can affect the reliability and validity of the evidence.

Related areas

Electronic evidence is won or lost at the start.

Call us before you hand over a device or a password.

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