Applications of Blockchain Technology in Ensuring Chain of Custody for Digital Evidence

Abstract

In the digital age, the collection and preservation of digital evidence have become pivotal to ensuring the integrity of legal proceedings, investigations, and cybersecurity. One of the critical aspects of managing digital evidence is the Chain of Custody (CoC), which refers to the documentation that tracks the evidence's handling, storage, and transfer. This paper explores how blockchain technology can be leveraged to improve the efficiency and transparency of managing the chain of custody for digital evidence. By providing a decentralized, tamper-proof, and transparent ledger system, blockchain has the potential to revolutionize the way evidence is tracked, ensuring its authenticity and integrity.