Smartphones are more relevant to investigations than ever before, with 97% of investigators citing them as the top source of digital evidence, according to Cellebrite’s 2026 Industry Trends Report.
The report, which surveyed 1,200 public safety practitioners across 63 countries, found the result was up 24 points from 73% in 2024.
This increase mirrors public expectations, as 97% of agency managers say communities expect digital evidence to be used in most cases.
It marks the company’s seventh annual report on how organisations collect, manage and analyse digital evidence.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is an increasingly important technology for enhancing the speed and efficiency of investigations. 65% of public safety respondents believe AI can accelerate investigations, yet nearly a third of these respondents report their agency’s policies prevent AI’s use. Two-thirds of respondents cite review time as the biggest barrier to moving cases, yet AI can solve this, with respondents agreeing one of its best features is quickly analysing communications to identify links between people.
Public safety findings show 95% agree digital evidence increases case solvability, while 94% say complexity is straining caseloads. However, only 62% of agency leaders are shifting resources from legacy to digital methods. This gap between recognition and action underscores the modernisation challenge agencies face.
“The relationship between the public and the police is fundamental,” stated Matt Scott, a UK Police and Crime Commissioner. “As new technology is introduced, it is important that the public’s consent is sought and that appropriate safeguards are put in place to ensure that decision making remains in the hands of officers and staff. The relationship between the public and the police is fundamental. Any use of AI or automation in policing should follow consultation with the public and be applied only where appropriate and where it can responsibly support productivity.”
“Digital evidence is increasingly where our investigations begin,” said James Howe, Detective, Columbus, Ohio, Division of Police. “This modern reality has us rethinking our workflows across the agency, not just in the lab. Digital evidence shapes how our cases are built from day one.”
“It’s clear digital evidence is the backbone of modern justice,” said David Gee, Chief Marketing Officer of Cellebrite. “Today’s investigations involve an exponential explosion of devices, data and complexity that agencies must manage. Their only choice to evolve is to mobilise and leverage technology that will help them process evidence efficiently, while preserving the accuracy and ensuring the defensibility of evidence on which the justice system relies.”
Using the Cloud to store and share digital evidence is steadily becoming essential for agencies of all sizes. Cloud receptiveness for digital evidence management reached 42% in 2026, up from 38% in 2025. Yet physical media remains the default option with two-thirds of respondents still sharing evidence via portable hard drives and USB sticks, creating chain of custody risks and slowing cross-agency collaboration.
Private sector findings show investigations embedded across business operations, with a clear shift in AI adoption from strategic intent to practical application.
- Top use cases: eDiscovery (54%), data theft (46%) and network exploits (44%)
- Mobile data appears in 66% of investigations; computer storage and cloud data each appear in 46%
- 57% say AI-assisted communication analysis accelerates outcomes
“Organisations want to be better prepared, so investigations are no longer just about reacting after something happens, said Colin Duncan, eDiscovery Technologist at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP. “Gaining a clear understanding of data across systems, devices, and applications in a consistent and defensible manner is essential. When used responsibly, AI enables teams to accelerate their work without compromising control or accountability.”
These trends have underpinned strong adoption of Cellebrite’s evidence and case management investigative platform, Guardian, primarily among state and local law enforcement agencies in the United States, as well as in Latin America and the United Kingdom. In 2025, Guardian delivered triple-digit year-over-year growth across customers, users and data stored on the platform and was also recently made available to enterprise customers.
There’s plenty of other editorial on our sister site, Electronic Specifier! Or you can always join in the conversation by visiting our LinkedIn page.
