Photo-forensics

At one time or another, law enforcement agencies find themselves investigating child sexual abuse material. Now more than ever there are a variety of ways in which this material is distributed amongst persons and online. It has become a priority to provide investigators with the tools necessary to identify and report on these materials. 

Photo forensics plays an important role in investigations. Increased access to electronic devices and growing social media platforms mean photos can be an important factor in an investigation.

Digital image forensics is the process of identifying and analyzing digital images for the purpose of providing legal evidence. This process can be used to investigate a wide variety of crimes, including child abuse, identity theft, and copyright infringement. Today’s digital era has caused images and videos to become a source of information and entertainment [1].

When conducting an investigation involving multimedia, the quantities of files can be quite overwhelming especially when they include Child Exploitation Material (CEM) and Child Sexual Assault Material (CSAM). It is not just the CEM or CSAM that is included in the collection or search, typically there are tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of files including images and videos, that have to be sorted through. Not only can the number of files be daunting, but the reasons for conducting the intense file filtering also have multiple purposes.

Digital Media Investigators throughout the United Kingdom rely on the Child Abuse Image Database (CAID) in their digital investigations involving Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). 

Crimes against children investigations can lead CSAM investigators to have to review thousands or even tens of thousands of images. Investigators need tools to help them find relevant evidence quickly. 

ADF prioritizes digital evidence collection and provides investigators and examiners post-scan options to speed investigations. Post scan options let digital forensic investigators get fast and relevant evidence to make decisions on-scene and in the forensic lab.

Learn how to easily remove CSAM images and other properties from view

One of the most important factors in a child exploitation investigation, is having the ability to show a report to a colleague, co-worker, prosecutor, or present to present your findings in court without re-victimizing the subject of the photo, or shocking the sense of the viewer of the report. Having a professional report that still reflects the properties that need to be presented is essential to your case.

Digital Forensic Investigators and Examiners need to be able to find evidence quickly and one of the ways that ADF provides this capability is using PhotDNA. 

Photo Forensics as a term will typically refer either to the profession dedicated to authenticating digital images to determine authenticity, or, it may refer to the capability of digital forensics software to find and identify photos. 

With more than a dozen out-of-the-box Search Profiles inside Digital Evidence Investigator^® (DEI) and all the ADF digital forensic and triage tools, the ADF Digital Forensic team has created software that enables investigators and forensic examiners to capture files, artifacts, and the digital evidence needed in a wide variety of evidence collection situations. 

The investigation began when law enforcement officials received a report that images that were consistent with child pornography had been uploaded to a social media platform. The images were immediately flagged, and investigators swiftly obtained a search warrant to gain access to the suspect's residence. Once inside the residence, members of the State Police Computer Crime Unit conducted an on-scene forensic examination of all electronic media, including computers, phones, and other electronic devices. This examination was conducted with the utmost care and attention to detail to ensure that all potential evidence was discovered and preserved. The examination proved to be invaluable, as it revealed a trove of images and videos of sexual abuse of an under age child, leading investigators to identify a resident of the household as the suspect. Through their tireless efforts, these investigators were able to bring a dangerous criminal to justice and protect innocent children from further harm.  

Using ADF Digital Evidence Investigator^®, investigators discovered images and videos of sexual abuse of an under age child and were able to identify a resident of the household as the suspect. Specifically, investigators located thumbcache images that resulted in identifying a female child that was being sexually abused and identified the suspect.