subject: E-discovery: We All Do It [print this page] If you've never heard of e-discovery, let me tell you what I've heard. It is a phrase that deals with evidence gained from an electronic source or computer. While it is relatively new because of how technology has grown, it will become a more common phrase that lots of people will start getting to know a little more.
When you are looking for information that is on someone else's electronic device - a computer, cell phone, mp3 player, etc - you are becoming an electronic investigator. You can see virtually anything that is put on the device. You can look for files, photos, audio clips, and even spreadsheets! It is amazing what people can do with technology these days.
Say you are holding onto your friend's cell phone while they are using the restroom at a restaurant. They get a text from one of your mutual friends and after a minute, your curiosity gets the better of you and you look at the text message. You find out that your friends are planning a surprise party for your birthday!
There is a new branch for e-discovery. It is called computer forensics, or cyber forensics. In this field, an investigator specializes in looking at the contents of one specific computer. Basically, they take the computer, copy the hard drive, and then search through the digital copy so as to not tamper with the information on the original hard drive.
In order to team up with other branches of law enforcement, those that work with e-discovery need to be able to communicate with them. This requires an open relationship between e-discovery people and those that work in other branches. Once they team up, any type of case can use e-discovery, if you were wondering.
For example, how many times have you picked up your significant others' cell phone and read through their text messages only to find out they were having a conversation with someone you don't know? If you have done this, you have been an e-discoverer. So, you can see that it is very easy to be an electronic investigator.
E-discovery is a very easy way to find evidence for not only courts, but everyday people as well. It can find information that assists in court proceedings and it can also help you to find out information you would not have otherwise stumbled upon. You must always be careful of what you are putting on an electronic device!
So, remember that e-discovery is the way of discovering information for today's courts and for today's regular people. You can't delete what you've put on your electronic devices, so you need to be careful of what you are doing at all times. Cell phones, computers and other electronic devices are all subject to this discovering process!
