Cross-Border Cybercrime Digital Evidence: Current Research and Fundamental Categories

Abstract

Cross-border cybercrime has intensified the challenges surrounding the acquisition, preservation, and admissibility of digital evidence. Characterized by deterritorialization, volatility, and technological dependence, digital evidence underpins the investigation and adjudication of cyber offenses but is constrained by obstructed access, fragmented standards, and sovereignty conflicts. This article reviews the current state of research and practice, analyzing international and domestic legal frameworks, as well as academic debates on legality, relevance, and scientific reliability. It further outlines a structured typology of nine categories of digital evidence, ranging from communication records and financial transactions to malware, metadata, and deepfake content. By mapping these categories and their evidentiary implications, the study provides a conceptual foundation for comparative legal inquiry and highlights the need for interdisciplinary research and cross-border cooperation to address the evolving complexities of digital evidence.