VIDEO CONFERENCING AS A MEANS OF TAKING EVIDENCE IN CIVIL PROCEEDINGS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25234/pv/39924Abstract
The digital transformation of the judiciary is aimed at improving efficiency, legal certainty, and citizens’ access to legal protection. The use of videoconferencing technology in evidence-taking procedures is increasingly proving to be a valuable instrument, enabling enhanced cooperation between courts, reducing costs, and accelerating judicial proceedings. Videoconferencing is no longer merely a technical aid; it is now regarded as a standardised instrument capable of contributing to the more effective functioning of the judicial system. Such use is, however, associated with significant procedural and technical challenges. Differences in technological capacity, the need for interoperability between systems, and the safeguarding of personal data require careful normative regulation and institutional coordination. Of particular importance is the question of whether the principle of immediacy can be fully realised in a virtual environment, given that videoconferencing does not allow for the same perception of non-verbal cues, spontaneity of communication, and psychological dynamics as physical presence in the courtroom. In the context of the application of technology in judicial proceedings, artificial intelligence is also gaining increasing importance. It may contribute to analytical efficiency and improved case management; however, its use must remain subject to strict human oversight in order to preserve the individualisation of proceedings and the protection of fundamental procedural rights.
This paper examines the legal framework governing the taking of evidence by means of videoconferencing, in particular through the hearing of parties, witnesses, and other persons whose testimony is relevant to the conduct of civil proceedings, within the European Union and the Republic of Croatia. The aim of this research is to identify the practical and legal challenges posed by this form of evidence-taking and to propose possible improvements to ensure the consistent, efficient, and legally secure application of videoconferencing within the European judicial area.
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