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An investigation of digital forensic concepts in an international environment: the U.S., South Africa, and Namibia Item Type Thesis Authors Phillips, Amelia Download date 27/09/2021 15:07:52 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/11122/4615 AN INVESTIGATION OF DIGITAL FORENSIC CONCEPTS IN AN INTERNA TION AL ENVIRONMENT: THE U.S., SOUTH AFRICA, AND NAMIBIA By Amelia Phillips RECOMMENDED: Dr. Uma Bhatt ~~~ Drfio;;&enetti ~ ~i~ D;f,a~ommittee Chair Department of Computer Science APPROVED: AN INVESTIGATION OF DIGITAL FORENSIC CONCEPTS IN AN INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT: THE U.S., SOUTH AFRICA, AND NAMIBIA A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the University of Alaska Fairbanks in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY by Amelia Phillips, B.S., MBA-TM Fairbanks, Alaska August 2013 v ABSTRACT Digital forensic investigations are growing in number not only in the United States but in nations around the world. The activities of multinational corporations and cybercrime cross jurisdictional boundaries on a daily basis. This investigation sets out to perform a qualitative analysis of the requirements needed for acceptance of digital evidence in multiple jurisdictions and the qualifications of digital forensic examiners by focusing on three case studies. The countries chosen are the United States, South Africa and Namibia. The research lays the foundation by examining existing international laws and treaties, and then uses the three case studies to address constitutional issues, civil and criminal law as they pertain to digital evidence. By ascertaining where the similarities and differences lie, a grounded theory approach is used to provide digital forensic examiners, legal staff and investigators a basis that can be used to approach digital cases that come from or must be presented in foreign jurisdictions. As more countries struggle to establish their digital laws regarding investigations, the resulting approach will serve as a guide and reference. Keywords: digital evidence, multijurisdictional, cybercrime, computer forensics, digital forensics, digital law, computer investigations, digital investigations vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Signature Page ........................................................................................................ i Title Page .............................................................................................................. iii Abstract .................................................................................................................. v Table of Contents ................................................................................................ vii List of Figures ....................................................................................................... xi List of Tables ....................................................................................................... xiii List of Appendices ............................................................................................... xv List of Acronyms ............................................................................................... xvii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................ xxi Dedication ......................................................................................................... xxiii Chapter One .......................................................................................................... 1 Background ..................................................................................................... 2 Purpose of the Current Study .......................................................................... 7 Case Studies .................................................................................................... 9 Approach and Focus of the Investigation ..................................................... 12 Importance of the Study ................................................................................ 14 viii Summary ....................................................................................................... 14 Chapter Two – Literature Review ..................................................................... 17 Literature Related to International/National Digital Evidence, Processes, Rules, and Training .................................................................................... 18 International Digital Evidence Sources.. ...................................................... 19 United States Literature Search..................................................................... 30 Rules, Statutes and Legal History.. ........................................................... 30 Training and Licensing of Experts. ........................................................... 45 South African Related Literature .................................................................. 56 Rules, Statutes and Legal History.. ........................................................... 56 Namibian Related Literature ......................................................................... 65 Rules, Statutes and Legal History. ............................................................ 65 Email Issues on the International and National Scenes ................................ 70 Case Law ....................................................................................................... 73 U.S. Case Law ............................................................................................... 74 Case Law in South Africa and Namibia ........................................................ 81 Extradition Law ............................................................................................ 87 Literature Related to Qualitative Analysis, Case Studies, and Grounded Theory ........................................................................................................ 88 Summary ....................................................................................................... 93 ix Chapter Three – Comparison of Case Law ...................................................... 95 U.S. Case law ................................................................................................ 95 South African Case Law ............................................................................. 107 Namibian Case Law ..................................................................................... 111 Summary ......................................................................................................112 Chapter Four - Hypotheses and Comparisons ................................................ 115 Examination of Commonalities ...................................................................117 Examination of Variances ........................................................................... 129 Forensic Investigators and the Judiciary ..................................................... 131 International Cooperation ........................................................................... 135 Summary ..................................................................................................... 137 Chapter Five - Expert Opinions ...................................................................... 141 Expert One .................................................................................................. 142 Expert Two .................................................................................................. 143 Expert Three ................................................................................................ 145 Expert Four ................................................................................................. 148 Expert Five .................................................................................................. 149 Expert Six .................................................................................................... 150 Expert Seven ............................................................................................... 153 x Expert Eight ................................................................................................ 154 Expert Nine ................................................................................................. 156 Summary ..................................................................................................... 159 Chapter Six - Conclusions and Next Steps ..................................................... 161 Conclusions and Resulting Grounded Theory ............................................ 161 Challenges ................................................................................................... 172 Implications and the Way Forward ............................................................. 174 REFERENCES .................................................................................................. 179 Appendices ......................................................................................................... 193 xi LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 1 - Areas of Study (Nance & Ryan, 2011) ................................................... 7 Figure 2 Republic of South Africa (citation in footnote) ...................................... 57 Figure 3 - Namibian Regions Post-Independence (citation in footnote) .............. 66 Figure 4 - Use of Case Studies with Grounded Theory ........................................ 93 Figure 5 - 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