Lay Witness or Expert Witness? Who Decides and Why Does it Matter?
Once the forensic video analysis work has been completed and the report has been written, the analyst may be called to court to testify to the work undertaken. The question then arises as to whether this evidence should be led as expert evidence or lay testimony. Who decides this question and why does...
London Conference: The Application of AI Within Our Justice System
There is an excellent training opportunity being offered on April 26 at King’s College London. This event – The Application of AI Within Our Justice System – is being presented by the British Academy of Forensic Sciences, King’s Forensics, Inside Justice, and the King’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence. There will be speakers from the House...
The Case for Restricting Comparison Opinion Evidence on Identification by Lay Witnesses
What is the scope for video technicians or analysts to offer their opinion on the identification of suspects observed in CCTV and other images based solely on their observation of such images and their subsequent comparison to known images of suspects? Should opinions on identification be allowed at all? If so, should there...
Next Online Courtroom Testimony for Expert Witnesses Course Announced: TBD
The online Courtroom Testimony for Expert Witnesses course has continually been a great success! We have had participants from across Canada and the US, the UK, Norway, Australia, and New Zealand. The ability to learn from the instructor and from each other in this dynamic and informative course is unparalleled. The online format has proven...
Authentication Via Circumstantial Evidence: A Case for Social Media Images
Can a screenshot of a single image from a cell phone video recorded by an unknown person located on an unidentified Facebook account where the video was deleted shortly after uploading be authenticated for use at trial? That was the question a trial court in Maryland (USA) and the appeal court needed to...
The Application of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act to Facial Recognition Technologies used by Law Enforcement Agencies
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to make inroads into various facets of our lives, some favourably, others less so, it is not surprising that governments are trying to regulate the use of AI. As part of a project I am working on regarding facial recognition technology (FRT), I have focused on how government...
Reminder – Request for your assistance in multi-national image-based evidence research survey
This request for assistance went out one month ago and while there has been a reasonably good response, many more participants are needed to provide sufficient data for analysis. Please respond to the appropriate survey if you have not already done so. And thanks to those who have responded! I am one of...
Request for your assistance in multinational image-based evidence research survey
I am one of five researchers from the UK, US, and Canada undertaking a new research project surveying investigators who use image-based evidence as part of their criminal investigation work (User Survey) AND also subject matter experts. If you are a LEVA CFVT or CFVA, you would qualify for the Subject Matter Expert...
Advanced Visual Representations in International Criminal Prosecutions – Update
Earlier in 2024, I published an article on this site regarding the pending judgment of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the case of Prosecutor v. Al Hassan. On June 26, 2024, the Chamber delivered its judgment. This article recaps the relevant case details and highlights the image-based evidence that was challenged by...
The Satellite Era: How Earth Observation Data is Being Mobilized as Potential Digital Evidence
[The following is the text of an informative article written by a Leiden University (Netherlands) colleague, Sabrina Rewald, and me. It was published on July 1, 2024, in the European Journal of International Law as part of its EJIL: Talk! series. Various parts of article have helpful hyperlinks (not reproduced below) and so...