FEDIS : Forensic Evidence Declaration & Integrity Statement

When digital evidence is shared via cloud links instead of direct file attachments, the risk of integrity challenges increases exponentially. Opposing parties may question whether the downloaded file matches the original acquisition, whether it has been modified, or whether the cloud link provides adequate chain of custody documentation. To ensure probative value remains unassailable, a technical certification framework is essential.

We explain why the Forensic Evidence Declaration & Integrity Statement (FEDIS) is becoming the international standard for digital evidence certification and why leading law firms worldwide are requiring it as mandatory technical documentation.

What is the Forensic Evidence Declaration & Integrity Statement (FEDIS)

The Forensic Evidence Declaration & Integrity Statement (acronym FEDIS, coined by Informatica in Azienda to identify this specific forensic certification framework) is a technical-legal declaration that accompanies digital evidence and certifies three fundamental elements:

• Integrity – the file is unaltered and verifiable through SHA-256 and SHA-512 cryptographic hashes
• Authenticity – who acquired the evidence, with which tools, and according to which certified procedures
• Chain of custody – complete and documented traceability from acquisition to deposition

Unlike a simple screenshot capture or an undocumented file, FEDIS is structured in full compliance with the highest international forensic standards:

• ISO/IEC 27037:2012 – International guidelines for identification, collection, acquisition and preservation of digital evidence
• eIDAS – EU Regulation No. 910/2014 (qualified digital signature and RFC 3161 timestamp)
• Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE 901/902) – US evidentiary standards for authentication and self-authentication of digital evidence

The result is a document that is technically unassailable, legally enforceable, and independently verifiable, dramatically reducing the possibility of challenges by opposing parties and providing the court with an objective and independent verification tool.

Why Cloud Links Require FEDIS Certification

Modern litigation increasingly relies on electronic filing systems with strict file size limitations (typically 30-60 MB). When certified material exceeds these limits, attorneys must provide download links to cloud storage instead of direct file attachments. In this scenario, FEDIS becomes absolutely essential because:

“The link itself proves nothing about the integrity of the downloaded content”
“Anyone could modify the file on the cloud server after acquisition”
“There’s no way to verify that what we download today is what was acquired originally”
“The chain of custody is broken when files are transferred to third-party cloud storage”

With FEDIS attached to the cloud-hosted evidence, these objections become technically unsustainable because:

• SHA-256 and SHA-512 cryptographic hashes certify file immutability
• RFC 3161 timestamp provides legally enforceable date certainty (erga omnes)
• Qualified digital signature guarantees the identity of the forensic expert
• Documented chain of custody demonstrates that no one could manipulate the file

The judge, court-appointed expert, and opposing party can independently verify the hash: if it matches the one reported in FEDIS, the evidence is mathematically identical to the original acquired file. No trust is required: the verification is technical and objective.

Recent Case Study: When FEDIS is Missing, Challenges Arrive

Just days ago, an attorney reported receiving a formal challenge from opposing counsel regarding the integrity of files in a certification deposited without FEDIS.

The adverse party questioned:

• The possibility that files had been modified after acquisition
• The absence of an objective verification system for integrity
• The lack of compliance with international forensic standards

Result: procedural complications, need for supplementary expert testimony, extended timelines, and increased costs for the client.

All of this would have been completely avoided with FEDIS attached from the beginning. The court-appointed expert would have simply recalculated the hash of the deposited file, verified correspondence with FEDIS, and closed the matter in minutes.

The FEDIS Verification Process: Simple and Objective

Verification is extremely simple and can be performed by anyone with basic technical skills:

1. Download the certified file from the cloud link or physical media provided
2. Calculate the SHA-256 or SHA-512 hash of the file using free software such as:
   • Windows: HashTab, 7-Zip, certUtil (command line)
   • Mac: Terminal with command shasum -a 256 filename
   • Linux: Terminal with command sha256sum filename
   • Online: web services (not recommended for sensitive files)
3. Compare the obtained hash with the one reported in FEDIS
4. Verification result:
   • ✅ Identical hashes → the file is intact and authentic
   • ❌ Different hashes → the file has been altered or corrupted

This procedure can be performed at any time, even years later, and constitutes irrefutable technical proof of the evidentiary material’s integrity.

Practical Application in Legal Proceedings

When depositing forensic certification with FEDIS, you can include an effective formula in legal documents such as:

This simple declaration:

• ✅ Shifts the burden of proof to opposing party
• ✅ Makes technical challenges extremely difficult
• ✅ Demonstrates professional diligence and use of international standards
• ✅ Provides the court with an objective verification tool

When FEDIS is Indispensable

FEDIS is particularly recommended (if not indispensable) in the following cases:

🔴 Electronic Filings with Links to Large Files

Electronic filing systems have size limitations (often 30-60 MB). When certified material exceeds these limits, attorneys must deposit a download link instead of the file itself. In this scenario, FEDIS becomes essential because it certifies that the downloadable file from the link is identical to the acquired one, through cryptographic hashes.

⚖️ High-Conflict Litigation

When opposing counsel is expected to systematically challenge every piece of evidence, FEDIS provides preventive technical shielding.

🌍 Cases with International Parties or Cross-Border Validity

FEDIS complies with US standards (Federal Rules of Evidence) and EU regulations (eIDAS), ensuring international recognition.

📅 Evidence Intended for Multi-Year Preservation

In lengthy proceedings or cases with potential appeals, FEDIS ensures that even years later, the integrity of the original file can be verified.

💼 Particularly Sensitive or Strategic Digital Material

Compromising chats, emails with contractual agreements, web pages with defamatory content, damaging online reviews: anything that can make a procedural difference deserves maximum evidentiary protection.

Structure and Content of FEDIS

A complete Forensic Evidence Declaration & Integrity Statement typically includes:

1. Document information – creation date, reference to certified file, applicable jurisdiction
2. Evidence description – content type, source, acquisition method (FAW – Forensic Acquisition Workflow)
3. Cryptographic hashes – SHA-256 (primary) and SHA-512 (secondary) calculated immediately after acquisition
4. Legal framework – compliance with ISO/IEC 27037:2012, eIDAS, Federal Rules of Evidence
5. Sworn declaration – forensic expert’s sworn statement on procedure correctness
6. Chain of custody – documentation of file transfer from moment of acquisition
7. Retention policy – instructions on retention periods and client responsibilities
8. Qualified digital signature – with RFC 3161 timestamp for legally enforceable date certainty

The document is drafted in English language to ensure international validity, and is digitally signed with an eIDAS qualified certificate to guarantee authenticity and immutability.

Proper Preservation of FEDIS-Certified Evidence

To ensure accessibility and validity of evidence over time, it is essential to follow preservation best practices:

📂 Redundancy Principle (3-2-1 Rule)

⚠️ Important: The cloud link serves for temporary sharing with the Court or opposing parties, but does not guarantee unlimited preservation. It is essential to preserve certified files locally on multiple media.

Types of Evidence that Always Require FEDIS

1. Web Pages, Social Media Profiles, and Online Content Certification

Web pages can be modified or deleted at any time. A simple PDF printout or screenshot does not have sufficient probative value because it is easily challengeable.

The legally authenticated copy accompanied by FEDIS guarantees:

• Forensic acquisition of original HTML code
• High-resolution rendered screenshots
• Complete HTTP metadata (IP, timestamp, SSL certificates)
• Cryptographic hashes of the entire package
• Qualified digital signature and timestamp

Service available at:
🔗 Web Content Certification with Legal Value

2. WhatsApp Chat Certification (Remote Acquisition)

Isolated screenshots of WhatsApp chats are not considered reliable evidence by courts worldwide. They can be easily manipulated with editing software or apps that simulate fake conversations.

The forensic certification with complete extraction of WhatsApp databases and attached FEDIS eliminates any risk of challenge because:

• Extracts data directly from WhatsApp’s SQLite database
• Includes complete metadata (timestamp, message ID, delivery/read status)
• Certifies the hash of the original database
• Provides detailed technical report with qualified digital signature

FEDIS as Professional Standard for Digital Evidence Deposition

The Forensic Evidence Declaration & Integrity Statement is not a technical luxury or optional feature: it is a professional protection tool for modern legal practice. It allows:

• ✅ Avoid authenticity challenges through objective technical verifiability
• ✅ Strengthen probative value of deposition with compliance to international standards
• ✅ Demonstrate professional diligence in using certified forensic methodologies
• ✅ Offer the court independently verifiable evidence, without need to trust the expert
• ✅ Reduce procedural timelines by eliminating need for supplementary expert testimony to verify integrity
• ✅ Protect client from additional costs arising from late challenges

In a context where almost every litigation involves a digital element, knowing how to request and correctly use FEDIS represents a real strategic advantage for law firms.

How to Obtain Certification with FEDIS

All our forensic certifications include the Forensic Evidence Declaration & Integrity Statement as standard technical documentation, available for:

• ✅ Web pages, social profiles, marketplaces and online platforms
• ✅ WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal and other messaging applications
• ✅ Emails, PEC attachments and technical documentation
• ✅ Digital files, screenshots, audio/video recordings
• ✅ Blockchain transactions, smart contracts, NFTs
• ✅ Online reviews, comments, defamatory posts

For information or to request forensic intervention with FEDIS, you can contact us:

Conclusion: FEDIS is the Future of Digital Evidence

Effective electronic filing depends on the solidity of digital evidence. The Forensic Evidence Declaration & Integrity Statement enables:

• 🛡️ Overcome challenges before they become procedural problems
• 📁 Protect the case file with unassailable technical documentation
• ⚖️ Give the judge a verifiable and objective tool
• 💼 Demonstrate professionalism and adherence to international standards
• ⏱️ Reduce procedural timelines by eliminating need for supplementary expert testimony

In 2025, depositing digital evidence without FEDIS is like going to court without preparing the defense brief: technically possible, but strategically disadvantageous.

FEDIS is no longer an advanced option for special cases: it is rapidly becoming the minimum standard for any digital evidence that must withstand adversarial proceedings and expert verification.