ETHICAL PRINCIPLES OF DIGITAL INVESTIGATIONS: A LEGAL AND FORENSIC ANALYSIS

Abstract

This article examines the significance and application of ethical principles in digital investigations. The rapid development of information technologies and the increasing reliance on digital evidence have created new ethical challenges relating to the collection, analysis, preservation, and use of digital information. Particular concerns include the protection of privacy and personal data, the accuracy and objectivity of information, and the safeguarding of individual rights throughout investigative processes. In Uzbekistan, the ongoing modernisation of investigative practices has been accompanied by the development of legal provisions concerning information security, personal data protection, and the ethical conduct of law-enforcement officials. However, the application of these provisions in digital environments continues to present practical and regulatory challenges. Drawing on international standards and selected foreign practices, the study examines ethical approaches to digital investigations and places particular emphasis on personal data protection. The analysis indicates that the existing codes of ethics applicable to Uzbek law-enforcement agencies and judicial authorities do not fully address the specific characteristics and risks of digital investigations. The article therefore argues for the development of specialised ethical standards governing the collection, preservation, verification, evaluation, and use of digital evidence. Such standards are essential for strengthening legality, transparency, accountability, and the protection of fundamental rights in digital investigations.