Chronological independently verifiable electronic chain of custody ledger using blockchain technology

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State: Public
Version: Supplementary document
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Serval ID
serval:BIB_64CDB00A1F56
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Chronological independently verifiable electronic chain of custody ledger using blockchain technology
Journal
Forensic Science International: Digital Investigation
Author(s)
Burri Xavier (co-first), Casey Eoghan, Bollé Timothy, Jaquet-Chiffelle David-Olivier (co-last)
ISSN
2666-2817
Publication state
Published
Issued date
06/2020
Volume
33
Pages
300976
Language
english
Abstract
As evidence in digital form becomes more prevalent in all kinds of investigations, there is a pressing need for a trustworthy and transparent way to maintain electronic chain of custody (e-CoC) and integrity information that is independently verifiable. Generally, a hash value of digital evidence is calculated and documented with the acquired data to prove that it has not been altered. However, the hash value alone does not prove that digital evidence is the same as when it was obtained, only that the contents has not been modified since the time when the hash was calculated. This work responds to the need for a chronological independently verifiable e-CoC ledger using blockchain technology. Employing this approach, each e-CoC record is stored in a block, each block being connected to the previous one with the hash value of the block. This e-CoC ledger, the blockchain, can be hosted by a trusted entity and accessed by any party to verify e-CoC details. For privacy reasons, sensitive information is not stored inside the e-CoC record in the blockchain. Moreover, to prove that the e-CoC ledger itself has not been modified, information is periodically sent to a public blockchain, where the integrity is guaranteed by its decentralization and the structure of such a secure ledger. Not all of the blocks are sent into a public blockchain which allows different levels of verification. Proof-of-work examples are provided using AFF4 and dc3dd to demonstrate how this e-CoC ledger can be used by different parties in a legal context, including digital forensic practitioners, attorneys and judges.
Web of science
Create date
24/07/2020 14:19
Last modification date
25/07/2020 5:19
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