BSI British Standards welcomes public comments on new standard on legal admissibility and evidential weight of electronic information

These and many other issues are covered in a new draft standard, published by BSI British Standards.  BS 10008 addresses issues relating to the authenticity and integrity of electronic information which could potentially be used as evidence.  To comment on the draft of BS 10008 Evidential weight and legal admissibility of electronic information – Specification, using BSI’s new Draft Review system please visit www.bsigroup.com/bs10008  

Legal admissibility concerns whether or not a piece of evidence would be accepted by a court of law.  To ensure the admissibility, information needs to be managed by a secure system throughout its lifetime (which can be for many years). Where doubt can be placed on the information, the evidential weight may well be reduced, potentially harming the legal case.

BS 10008 ensures that any electronic information required as evidence of a business transaction is afforded the maximum evidential weight.  The process is based on the specification of requirements for planning, implementing, operating, monitoring and improving the organization’s information management systems.  Specific areas covered by the standard include:

• The management of electronic information over long periods, including through technology changes, where information integrity is a vital business
• How to manage the various risks associated with electronic information
• How to demonstrate the authenticity of electronic information
• The management of quality issues related to document scanning processes.
• The provision of a full life history of an electronic object throughout its life.

Alan Shipman, chairman of the BSI committee responsible for the development of BS 10008, said: “The new draft standard is an important step in ensuring the admissibility of evidence in the UK.  The draft has been developed by a wide range of experts in the field of document management as a specification of good practice.  We welcome comments from anyone for whom this topic is of interest, including business managers, records managers, compliance officers and legal advisors.”  

BS 10008 is due to be published in September 2008.

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Notes to Editors

For media information:
Lucy Fulton
Public Relations Officer
BSI British Standards
Tel: +44 (0)20 8996 7248
Mob: +44 (0)7717 451 990
Email: lucy.fulton@bsigroup.com
Website: www.bsigroup.com

About BSI British Standards
BSI British Standards is the UK’s National Standards Body, recognized globally for its independence, integrity and innovation in the production of standards and information products that promote and share best practice. BSI works with businesses, consumers and government to represent UK interests and to make sure that British, European and international standards are useful, relevant and authoritative.  For further information please visit www.bsigroup.com/britishstandards

About BSI Group
BSI British Standards is part of BSI Group, a global independent business services organization that inspires confidence and delivers assurance to customers with standards-based solutions. Originating as the world’s first national standards body, the Group has over 2,250 staff operating in over 100 countries through more than 50 global offices. The Group’s key offerings are:

• The development and sale of private, national and international standards and supporting information
• Second and third-party management systems assessment and certification
• Product testing and certification of services and products
• Performance management software solutions
• Training services in support of standards implementation and business best practice.

For further information please visit www.bsigroup.com