Information Privacy Protection during Remote Trials

In response to the recently increasing trend towards the use of technology in all sectors, courts, in most countries that possess high technological potentials and suitable electronic infrastructure, have started to use technology in the field of litigation. That is to say, this newly introduced use of technology has culminated in light of the adoption of an integrated legal regulation for remote trials in both civil and criminal lawsuits. In this regard, the application of remote trials requires the use of certain electronic systems and software at the court, with regard to processing the personal data of litigants, defendants, victims, witnesses, etc.; as well as processing other data concerning the disputed matter, including all secret and confidential details of the litigants, defendants and victims; and that is whether these secrets are personal, domestic, commercial or professional. Therefore, it is necessary to adopt and apply the rules of Information Security, while using the new legal system of remote trials. In other words, it is of the utmost importance to take all necessary precautions, in order to protect the information privacy of litigants, defendants, victims, witnesses and all involved parties against any potential hacking or tampering. This paper will focus on three major issues as follows: a) the requirements that shall be duly fulfilled, in order to guarantee the success of the remote trials system; b) the required protection for the Right to Information Privacy; and c) the application mechanism of the remote trial system, as well as protecting the Right to Information Privacy.