subject: Electronic Discovery: [print this page] Electronic discovery can really make you rethink the way you use your computer. Have you ever wondered what happens when you press the delete button on your computer? Does that information magically disappear forever, or is it really stored somewhere deep inside the computer's hard drive? The answer will surprise you greatly, I think.
The main function of electronic discovery is to find evidence on devices that might contain damning files and pieces of information. Government workers will sometimes hack a suspect's personal devices to find files and evidence to convict them for a crime they think he has committed. In some cases, a copy of the computer must be made.
This field of study is a new one and must constantly change and grow due to how technology is booming. Think of how many new ideas and technologies are being developed every day. Can you think of ways to keep up with how much that is changing, and still remain ethical in how you retrieve that information? I sure can't.
The kinds of things the investigators are looking for might include documents, pictures, audio files, instant messaging chat logs, spreadsheets or even e-mail. All of these documents are easy for investigators to find even though we think these documents are safe and secure on our computer or permanently gone after we delete them.
For other branches of the criminal justice agencies to work with electronic discovery people, their relationship needs to grow as fast as the field of study. Through continually talking about what each branch does, any other faction of government can continue to work with those that perform electronic discovery jobs. What a good team they all can be.
Because it is a recently developed field of study, electronic discovery is constantly growing and changing. It has to do this because technology is booming and changing, too. Every day, new ideas and gadgets are being developed in laboratories all around the world. How can we keep up with this changing world and be ethical about our interactions?
The best way to protect your life from the potentially harmful effects of e-discovery is to not engage in the wrong actions to begin with. Think about it. If you aren't doing anything wrong, there will be nothing for the investigators to find on any of your devices! Ask yourself if this is something you would like a court to know you were doing.
Electronic discovery really makes you think! Be careful about what you do while you're on your computer (or any electronic devices, for that matter). Always be aware that you are leaving a paper trail a mile long and that even though you might delete something, it is never really taken from the memory.
