Electronic discovery process using a blockchain

A computer program product comprising a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied therewith, the computer-readable program code being configured to implement the following for each phase of an electronic discovery process for providing evidence in form of electronic data objects using a blockchain, the electronic discovery process comprising a plurality of the phases and for at least two of the phases individual electronic data processing tools being used for executing the respective phase, each of the individual electronic data processing tools being dedicated to an individual one of the at least two phases, when being executed by a computer system:

• storing metadata of the electronic data objects being subject to the respective phase of the electronic discovery process and to the electronic data processing tool used for executing the respective phase in the blockchain,
• storing audit information about auditable actions carried out during the respective phase by the electronic data processing tool used for executing the respective phase on the electronic data objects in the blockchain,
• the stored audit information providing an end-to-end audit trail for each of the electronic data objects subject to at least one of the phases of the electronic discovery process.

A computer system for performing an electronic discovery process for providing evidence in form of electronic data objects using a blockchain, the electronic discovery process comprising a plurality of phases and for at least two of the phases individual electronic data processing tools being used for executing the respective phase, each of the individual electronic data processing tools being dedicated to an individual one of the at least two phases, the computer system being configured for each of the phases of the electronic discovery process to:

• store metadata of the electronic data objects being subject to the respective phase of the electronic discovery process and to the electronic data processing tool used for executing the respective phase in the blockchain,
• store audit information about auditable actions carried out during the respective phase by the electronic data processing tool used for executing the respective phase on the electronic data objects in the blockchain,
• the stored audit information providing an end-to-end audit trail for each of the electronic data objects subject to at least one of the phases of the electronic discovery process.