Examination of Firearms Review: 2007 to 2010 - Interpol

MySpace and you can share photos, journals and interests with your
growing network of mutual friends (30).
Minotti describes social networking sites as presenting discovery problems
because information is not physically stored on the user’s computer (31).
Berman states that Web 2.0 applications offer a framework in which its
users interact with and even create content themselves, rapidly sharing the
information across users and encouraging other users to respond in kind
(32). Another aspect that social networking sites have in common is that
they promote very informal means of communication (33). It is for this
reason that forensic examination often unveils truly damning email
communications. This informality according to Berman is even truer of
Web 2.0 applications with Blogs and journal entries on social networking
sites often being a stream of consciousness statements (34).
National Research Council, Strengthening Forensic Science in the United
States, review on the forensic Sciences including the discipline of digital
forensics
In 2009, the United States congressionally mandated report from the
National Research Council, Strengthening Forensic Science in the United
States, found allegedly serious deficiencies in the nation's forensic science
system and called for major reforms and new research (35). The Report
concluded, inter alia, that there are serious issues regarding the capacity
and quality of the current forensic science system. Specifically, the courts
continue to rely on forensic evidence without fully understanding and
addressing the limitations of different forensic science disciplines.
Moreover, it concluded that scientific evidence tests the abilities of judges,
lawyers, and jurors, all of whom may lack the scientific expertise to
comprehend the evidence and evaluate it in an informed manner.
The report’s findings are applicable to the presentation of digital forensic
evidence in criminal proceedings internationally. The challenges to the
digital forensic discipline nationally are not insurmountable. A concerted
effort is required by law enforcement agencies and the administrators of
justice in criminal proceedings nationally to enhance the probative value of
digital evidence.
The proliferation of digital and multimedia technologies and data storage
have provided significant challenges to law enforcement agencies and the
administrators of justice in criminal proceedings nationally (36). The
Report states “Moreover, in almost every instance, scientific evidence tests
the abilities of judges, lawyers, and jurors, all of whom may lack the
scientific expertise to comprehend the evidence and evaluate it in an
informed manner” (37). Moreover it states that the law’s greatest dilemma
in its heavy reliance on forensic evidence, however, concerns the question
of whether, and to what extent, there is science in any given “forensic
science” discipline (38).
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