LEGAL APPRAISAL ON ADMISSIBILITY OF GPS AND ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE IN NIGERIAN COURTS OF JUSTICE

INTRODUCTION

Because of the rapid advancements in technology, today’s tools and aspects have taken on a wide variety of uses, from commerce and industry to the criminal justice system. A good example of this kind of practice is the GPS global positioning system. In a nutshell, GPS is a satellite-based method for locating a specific location. In today’s industry, such technology is used in a variety of ways, including in automobiles and smartphones, which aid in determining directions and locations. Worldwide, GPS technology is seeing widespread use, not only by individuals but also by governments and organizations. In the future, Jordanian public prosecutors and judicial police officers may be more involved in the collection of evidence at various stages of pre-criminal investigation through the application of various GPS applications. Information from internet and telecommunications service providers may be used to follow suspects, accused, and convicted individuals in real time, including their movements, speeds, and locations.

As one of the most successful methods for criminal investigation in the last decade, the industry of Global Positioning Devices (GPS) has gained attention from the criminal justice system and law enforcement organizations. According to Jordan’s Constitution, 1952, and the latest Amendment of 2011, the right to privacy is guaranteed, and this paper will examine how GPS devices are now being used in criminal investigations, as well as their impact on this right. Using GPS-enabled surveillance data and information poses real challenges for governments in terms of protecting individuals’ right to privacy, especially in light of legal and constitutional restrictions imposed by Jordanian and other countries legislations on the installation of GPS devices in suspect vehicles. This paper explores these challenges. The purpose of this study is to examine how legislators and judges view the legality of employing these technologies in criminal investigations and the admissibility of the evidence gathered as a result of such investigations Using GPS devices by law enforcement officers and judicial police officers in Jordan to achieve the best possible outcome for an investigation is discussed in this paper. Although GPS devices can aid law enforcement in their fight against crime, they are not a one-size-fits-all solution, and their use must be done in accordance with constitutional safeguards, including the right to privacy.

 

3The significance of this paper stems from the utility of collecting evidence from GPS devices collected by public prosecutors and judicial police officers. Additionally, GPS evidence may be helpful in high-profile cases involving everything from organized crime to homicide to traditional and online offenses.\

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