Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a Resolution "On Measures to Organize Scientific Research Activities in the Field of Digital Forensics".

Within the structure of the Law Enforcement Academy, a Research Institute (RI) of Digital Forensics has been established.

Starting from 1 August 2024, the Institute will have the following powers:

• Conducting forensic examinations and research in the field of digital forensics;
• Identifying digital traces of crimes and preparing conclusions based on analyzed data;
• Training specialists working in the field of digital forensics;
• Engaging domestic and foreign specialists on a contractual basis;
• Utilizing collections of digital media (mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, computer equipment, video recorders, hard drives, flash memory, and external storage devices) maintained by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA).

The Institute will be equipped with necessary equipment, including unmanned aerial vehicles (drones).

Additionally, an Interagency Automated System "Unified Register of Digital Evidence" (hereinafter referred to as the Register) will be implemented, encompassing information not related to state secrets.

Key tasks of the Register include:

• Collecting, recording, storing, and analyzing materials related to criminal cases received from law enforcement agencies to solve crimes, enhance investigation efficiency, and promptly identify organized criminal groups;
• Gathering photographs, videos, audio recordings, electronic wallet addresses, cryptocurrencies, IP addresses, internet addresses (domains), accounts, location and time data of identification, as well as other significant digital evidence not classified as state secrets;
• Ensuring the reliability of data storage, processing, protection, data infrastructure, and database backup.

Evidence submission to the Register will be carried out by investigators and prosecutors of law enforcement agencies, the State Security Service (SSS), the National Guard, the Customs Committee, as well as experts from state judicial forensic institutions and forensic departments of government agencies.