System Forensics, Investigation, and Response, 3rd Edition

U.S. Laws Affecting Digital Forensics

There are many laws that affect digital forensics investigation; for example, some jurisdictions have passed laws that require the investigator to be either a law enforcement officer or a licensed private investigator to extract the evidence. Of course, that does not prevent a forensic investigator from working with information someone else extracted or extracting evidence if the information owner gave his or her permission. It is important to be aware of the legal requirements in the jurisdiction in which you work.

The Federal Privacy Act of 1974

The Privacy Act of 1974 establishes a code of information-handling practices that governs the collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of information ...