Monitor WhatsApp conversations in Palestinian legislation and related guarantees

Authors

Abdullah Deeb Mahmoud

 

Abstract

Monitoring electronic conversations in general, including WhatsApp conversations, is an investigation that falls within the jurisdiction and control of the Public Prosecution. Obtaining the approval of a Magistrate’s Court judge to conduct the observation is considered one of the basic conditions for the validity of the observation procedure. It is of the importance of electronic conversations, which have become legally recognized electronic evidence of crimes of all kinds, as long as the proper legal path that the Palestinian legislator has been followed in obtaining them is followed, the records may be audible, read, or visible, and in particular Lee is considered to be of legal value, whether it represents evidence of conviction or innocence, as a judge can extract its value after reviewing it and reviewing its details, or use an expert to analyze it, especially if it is not clear. It should be noted that protecting the private life of individuals is a constitutional and universal principle that may not be violated by control procedures except to the limits set by the law, since the right to privacy is subject to restriction and is subject to derogation from it according to legal procedures, especially in order to access the truth and achieve justice in accordance with exceptional and strict procedures. It is permissible to violate it, it is not permissible to monitor and record the conversations unless there is a benefit from them for the appearance of the truth, after the approval of the Magistrate’s Court judge upon the request of the Public Prosecutor or one of his assistants to monitor communications and (WhatsApp) conversations and registrations and deal with them to search for Evidence for a felony or misdemeanor is punishable by imprisonment for a period of no less than a year.

DOI: 10.51958/AAUJBL2020V4I1P4