“New Frontiers in Evidence” OSINT event at the Inner Temple, London
Attending the “New Frontiers in Evidence” conference at the Inner Temple on November 25, 2023, was an enlightening experience for us at Starling Lab. The event brought together preeminent legal minds to discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by user-generated evidence in modern legal contexts.
Her Excellency Judge Joanna Korner CMG KC opened the day with insightful remarks, setting the stage for a day rich with expert discussions. Eliot Higgins of Bellingcat delivered the keynote speech on the accountability and disinformation challenges inherent in user-generated evidence, highlighting methodologies grounded in the Berkeley Protocol and innovative tools like Hunchly and Mnemonic.
Session I focused on the admission and evaluation of user-generated evidence, with Dr. Jonathan Hak KC emphasizing the risks of miscarriages of justice and the difficulties in authenticating digital evidence. Dr. Alice Liefgreen and Prof. Yvonne McDermott provided crucial insights into the impacts of deepfakes, while Dr. Micheál Ó Floinn critiqued antiquated legal presumptions around digital evidence.
Ethics and practicalities in evidence collection were explored in Session II. Raquel Vazquez Llorente from WITNESS and Andrew Finkelman of Meta discussed the challenges of data retention and access under Article 40 DSA, highlighting the need for bridging gaps between current practices and future international mechanisms.
Interactive workshops followed, delving into the future of synthetic media, advocacy, and verification techniques. In the afternoon, Session III on investigative methodologies featured experts like Ben Strick and Dr. Alexa Koenig, who shared strategies for preserving and validating remote information.
The day concluded with discussions on the presentation of evidence in court and reflections on mock trial hearings. Notably, Her Excellency Judge Solomy Balungi Bossa and other legal luminaries underscored the critical need for training judges and ensuring the reliability and authenticity of digital evidence.
This conference was a profound reminder of the evolving landscape of evidence in the digital age, reaffirming our commitment to staying at the forefront of these pivotal discussions.