Is CCTV forensics possible?

CCTV forensics refers to a technical procedure that analyzes the digital traces remaining on a storage device (such as an HDD or SD card) to restore deleted or damaged footage.

Therefore, even if the footage has been deleted from the system once the retention period has passed, provided that the storage device has not been newly overwritten, a certain portion may, depending on the situation, be restored.

However, CCTV footage is mostly stored in a cyclical manner, so as time passes, new video data overwrites the existing footage.

In other words, the forensic recovery rate is high immediately after deletion, but the possibility of recovery gradually decreases after several weeks or months have passed.

To carry out CCTV forensics, you must first obtain the consent of the owner or administrator to access the equipment, and where the matter is related to a legal dispute or a criminal case, following evidence-securing procedures through a search-and-seizure warrant or a court preservation order is important.

Afterward, a forensic expert images the storage medium to prevent damage to the original, and the restoration work is carried out in that state.

If there is suspicion that the nursing home damaged or deleted the footage, the results of CCTV forensics can also reveal whether the footage was arbitrarily deleted and whether there are traces of manipulation.

Since recovered footage may later be used as evidence in a criminal complaint or civil litigation, it is advisable to proceed with the recovery process in cooperation with a forensic expert or an attorney as early as possible.