For a more comprehensive reading of applicable US
federal laws, Prosecuting Computer Crimes is available
for download from the Department of Justice.13 State
statutes should also be considered, and consulting
with a legal counsel is advised. Additional US laws14
include the following:
• Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA)
• Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)
• Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX)
• Consumer Credit Protection Act
• Telephone Records and Privacy Protection Act
Internationally, the European Union (EU) developed a
working document that pertains to the identification
and handling of electronic evidence. The EU/Council of
Europe (COE) Joint Project on Regional Cooperation
against Cybercrime: Electronic Evidence Guide is a
basic guide for law enforcement and judges.15
US law enforcement personnel who search and seize
computers during an investigation should be aware
of the requirements in the Searching and Seizing
Computers and Obtaining Electronic Evidence in
Criminal Investigations manual, from the Department
of Justice Computer Crime and Intellectual Property
Section.