Legal Aspects of Digital Forensics: A Research Agenda

The evolution of the Information Age has necessitated and facilitated the relatively new field of digital forensics. As a largely practitioner-driven field, there is no clearly defined research agenda to promote top-down research in related areas so that the evolution can be more solidly based on research findings. This paper builds on previously published topical research agendas for digital forensics and introduces a preliminary research hierarchy for legal issues associated with digital forensics. Topics discussed include constitutional law, property law, contract law, tort law, cybercrime, criminal procedure, evidence law, and cyber war. In addition some special associated problems and overarching areas are identified for consideration and for future research.