Production and preservation of electronic evidence within the European Union

• Author: Dra. Elisabet Cueto Santa Eugenia
• Profession: Profesora ayudante doctora en la Universidad Pontificia Comillas (Facultad de Derecho ICADE)
• Pages: 247-259

247

Production and preservation of electronic evidence

within the European Union

D. E C S E

Profesora ayudante doctora en la Universidad Pontificia Comillas

(Facultad de Derecho ICADE)

1. E-EVIDENCE IN THE DIGITALIZATION CONTEXT

The current world is undeniably constantly evolving, and the new

technologies are having a more protagonic role in everyday life. In many aspects

such as work, education, entertainment, communication and social interaction its

use is simply generalized. We could claim that the digitalization is transforming

the way in which people relate to each other and to the world that surrounds

them and, without doubt, that includes the way in which the justice operates —

both at a national and international levels— 1.

In the legal field, digitalization has had an impact both on the way in which

proceedings can be held —a clear example of this is the oral hearings held during

the pandemic 2— and on the expediting of certain procedures, making it possible

to reduce the time and paperwork. On the other hand, for some time now, the

possibility of presenting electronic evidence in proceedings has arisen. There is,

however, no unanimity among the doctrine when it comes to defining the exact

meaning electonic evidence 3.

1 With regard to the shift produced by technology and the way it affects justice within the EU,

vid. NEWLOVE-ERIKSSON, L. M., ERIKSSON, J., “Technological megashift and the EU: Threats,

vulnerabilities and fragmented responsibilities”, in The European Union and the technology shift, Palgrave

Mcmillan, Switzerland, 2021, p. 29 and ss.

2 About this, vid. MARTÍN OSTOS, J., “Justicia y pandemia en España (2020)”, Revista de Estudios

Jurídicos y Criminológicos, 2, 2020, p. 84.

3 This is a problem explained by: vid. BUENO DE MATA, F., Prueba electrónica y proceso, Tirant lo

Blanch, Valencia, 2014, pp. 95 y ss., DEPAUW, S.,“Electronic Evidence in Criminal Matters: How about

e-Evidence Instruments 2.0?”, Freedom Under Pressure, International Conference, Abstracts, 2017, p. 66 and

SANJURJO RÍOS, L., “Hacia una nueva realidad en las relaciones jurídicas entre particulares: nuevas

tecnologías, prueba electrónica y su repercusión en el derecho procesal civil español”, en Economía, empresa

y justicia. Nuevos retos para el futuro, Ed. Dykinson, 2021, p. 324.