Question

A corporate forensic investigator has been asked to acquire five forensic images of an employee database application. There are three images to capture in the United States, one in the United Kingdom, and one in Germany. Upon completing the work, the forensics investigator saves the images to a local workstation.

Which of the following types of concerns should the forensic investigator have about this work assignment?

A. Environmental
B. Privacy
C. Ethical
D. Criminal

Answer 1

The primary concern for a forensic investigator capturing images of an employee database application in multiple countries should be privacy, due to the various data protection laws such as GDPR. Forensic scientists must be compliant with such laws and maintain ethical standards in handling sensitive information.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the scenario where a corporate forensic investigator is tasked with acquiring forensic images of an employee database application across different countries, the type of concern that should be paramount is privacy. This is due to the differing regulations on data protection and cross-border transfer of personal information in the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany. Privacy laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU have strict requirements regarding the handling and storage of personal data. Compliance with these laws is critical to avoid legal repercussions.

Forensic science often involves collecting and analyzing sensitive information. Forensic scientists must handle such data with care to maintain the integrity of their investigations and respect the privacy and legal rights of individuals. When capturing forensic images, especially from an employee database application that likely contains personal information, the forensic investigator needs to be mindful of privacy laws that govern data protection in each jurisdiction they operate in.

Furthermore, in the course of their duties, forensic scientists, biologists, chemists, and other professionals may face ethical dilemmas when dealing with sensitive data. The adherence to ethical principles and the law is crucial for the legal validity of evidence presented in court and for maintaining the trust in the forensic profession.