The Significance of Blockchain Technology in Preserving Digital Evidence Integrity in Forensic Investigations

Abstract

Digital forensics is the application of technology to the investigation and accounting of digital crime and the extraction and analysis of digital evidence from systems and networks. As the number of IoT (Internet of Things) devices has proliferated, the complexity inherent in forensic investigations has skyrocketed. While IoT forensics addresses the challenges of a lack of standardized security protocol and ensuring the integrity as well as security of evidence data, it brings to bear all the difficulties existing in classic forensics. Unfortunately, traditional digital forensic tools are generally inadequate in shielding that evidence from tampering or unauthorized access. Digital evidence in IoT environments has been viewed as a potential solution that blockchain technology can offer with its tamper-proof and immune characteristics. This research explores how permissioned blockchain frameworks can enhance the integrity, confidentiality, and traceability of digital evidence in IoT forensic investigations. It hypothesizes that blockchain-based architectures outperform traditional evidence-handling mechanisms in preserving evidentiary reliability. While most encouraging, key findings show blockchain can do this establish data integrity, reliability, and confidentiality while featuring a very strong chain of custody for evidence. Furthermore, the study proposes how blockchain can be added to forensic practices to improve security and trust in forensic investigations. This study holds implications not only for digital forensic professionals but also for stakeholders in sectors such as healthcare, smart city governance, and critical infrastructure, where the reliability of digital evidence is paramount. By demonstrating blockchain’s role in safeguarding forensic data, this research contributes to trust-building mechanisms essential for digital justice and regulatory compliance in cross-border investigations.