The Role of Digital Forensics in Criminal Investigations: An Analysis of Electronic Evidence in the Indonesian Legal System

Abstract

Research on the use of digital forensic evidence in the process of investigating criminal acts, especially those carried out by the Police with their legal structure capabilities, aims to find out and analyze the extent to which evidence produced through digital forensics plays an important role in the process of proving criminal acts, the results of which become electronic evidence that has the strength of evidence in the applicable criminal procedural law. The type of research is normative (doctrinal), namely research that views law as building a system of norms. Digital forensics is an important instrument that helps investigators carry out research and investigation tasks, and it is an absolute requirement that must be met so that electronic documents can be used as evidence from the start of investigations, inquiries, prosecutions, and trials. The role of digital forensics in uncovering a criminal case starts from the preliminary stage, where investigators begin to collect evidence and electronic evidence assisted by one or more digital forensic experts. Digital forensics from the investigation stage is used to find material truth in every process of proving a criminal act.