In line with Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia enacted the Law of Evidence on July 7, 2022, which formally recognizes digital evidence within its legal system. This significant advancement modernizes judicial processes and enhances the efficiency of legal proceedings.
The Saudi Digital Evidence Law categorizes the following items under digital evidence:
- Digital Records: Archived data in digital formats.
- Digital Documents: Documents created, stored, or transmitted electronically.
- Digital Signatures: Electronic signatures that authenticate identities and document integrity.
- Electronic Communications: Includes all forms of digital communications, such as emails.
- Digital Media: Various types of digital content.
- Other Digital Evidence: Encompasses additional forms of digital data not specified above.
Digital evidence shall be deemed admissible in judicial proceedings provided it meets prescribed standards of integrity and relevance. Primarily, digital evidence must be unequivocally clear and devoid of any doubt to qualify for admissibility.
Additionally, the burden of proof rests upon the party contesting the veracity of the digital evidence. And this mirrors the challenges faced with conventional documentary evidence.
The statute grants digital evidence the same legal standing as conventional documentary evidence. Thereby this ensures its applicability across all types of legal disputes, including commercial and civil litigation.
The Law establishes explicit guidelines for evaluating digital evidence in legal proceedings, thereby streamlining the delivery of justice in a world that is becoming more digitalized.