Pencharskyi A. Messengers as means of committing criminal offenses: specific aspects of pre-trial investigation and international legal regulation

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33098/2078-6670.2025.19.31.388-395

Purpose. The purpose of the article is to study and highlight the legal aspects of using information and telecommunication systems and technologies, particularly messengers, in criminal activity, to outline the problems that arise in the process of searching, detecting, obtaining (seizing), fixing in the proper legal form, examining, and evaluating information contained in messengers, which may be stored on a mobile device or PC, or on remote servers. Methodology. The methodological basis of the research consists of general scientific principles and approaches, as well as special scientific methods for studying socio-legal processes and phenomena. Among them are: historical, dogmatic, comparative legal, formal logical, system-structural methods, and the modeling method. Results. Development of theoretical and methodological approaches and practical recommendations for improving the methods and means of searching, detecting, obtaining (seizing), fixing, examining, and evaluating information contained in information and telecommunication systems, which may have evidentiary value in criminal proceedings. Scientific novelty. This is one of the first studies in Ukraine where, based on the analysis of scientific works by Ukrainian and foreign scholars, as well as the practice of investigation and judicial proceedings, the theoretical aspects are disclosed and practical methods for conducting pre-trial investigation of criminal offenses committed using messengers are proposed. Practical significance. The practical significance lies in the fact that the conclusions, recommendations, and proposals formulated in the study can be used in the practical activities of pre-trial investigation bodies, prosecutor’s offices, as well as defense lawyers, in order to increase the effectiveness of criminal proceedings regarding crimes committed using messengers.

Key words: messengers, cybercrime, criminal law, criminal procedure, international law, artificial intelligence, digital technologies, information and telecommunication systems and technologies.

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