The Open Forensics Project builds open-source mobile forensics tools for under-resourced investigators, first responders, and human rights defenders worldwide.
Mobile forensic tools are prohibitively expensive and legally opaque — creating a two-tiered system where justice depends on budget, not merit.
Leading forensic tools require upfront licensing fees of $10,000–$30,000, with ongoing annual renewal costs that most agencies in the Global South simply cannot sustain.
Under-resourced law enforcement, civil society organizations, and first responders regularly encounter cases where critical digital evidence exists — but cannot be examined for lack of tools.
Proprietary forensic systems operate as closed "black boxes." Defence teams cannot interrogate how evidence was generated or processed, undermining fair trial rights and the integrity of proceedings.
The burden falls hardest on already-marginalized communities. Limited investigative capacity means their cases are disproportionately overlooked, evidence unused, and justice delayed or denied.
Access to digital evidence depends on resources, and trust in that evidence is constrained by opacity. Without intervention, this gap will only widen as digital crime continues to rise.
The Open Forensics Project is a lightweight, open-source mobile forensics platform tailored for investigators working in resource-constrained environments. Rather than competing with high-cost exploitation tools, OFP focuses where it matters most: cases where device access is already available — a significant proportion of real-world investigations.
OFP enables rapid, reliable triage without expensive infrastructure. Evidence can be extracted, analysed, and acted on quickly — and every step of the process is designed to hold up under legal scrutiny.
This is not just a technical tool. It is a shift in approach: toward forensics that is accessible, transparent, and aligned with the fundamental principles of justice.
Works across Android, iOS, and Windows — broad coverage for investigators operating in diverse device environments.
Designed to run in low-resource settings without expensive infrastructure. Ideal for first responders under challenging conditions.
Focused on cases where device access is available — extracting and analysing evidence quickly, reducing delays in investigation.
Built to adapt to local contexts — language, jurisdiction, and operational norms — for genuine global usability.
Security and privacy protections are embedded throughout — not added on. Evidence handling is secure from extraction to reporting.
Accessibility alone is not enough. For digital evidence to matter, it must stand up in court. OFP is built with legal admissibility at its core.
Every component is open to independent examination, testing, and validation. No black boxes. No hidden processes.
Aligned with internationally recognised evidentiary frameworks — testability, reliability, and known error rates are built-in, not afterthoughts.
Built-in audit logging and chain-of-custody mechanisms map directly to internationally recognised forensic standards for evidence handling.
Every stage — from extraction to reporting — is designed to be explainable, reproducible, and defensible under cross-examination.
A plugin-based, modular system using standard forensic formats ensures compatibility and long-term sustainability across jurisdictions.
Open governance and licensing ensures that the platform evolves in the open, with community oversight and clear accountability.
OFP integrates carefully scoped AI capabilities — including Large Language Model support — to help investigators work faster and smarter. All AI components are transparent, auditable, and built to keep humans in the loop. AI is used to support decision-making, not to make decisions itself.
OFP's impact extends beyond individual investigations. It is infrastructure for a more equitable, transparent global justice system.
Removes cost barriers for underfunded law enforcement, civil society organizations, and first responders who need these tools most.
Transparent, open-source processes mean defence teams can interrogate and challenge evidence — strengthening, not weakening, legal integrity.
Rapid triage capabilities mean more cases get investigated, evidence is processed faster, and victims see better outcomes sooner.
Open, accountable forensics builds public trust in justice systems — particularly in communities that have historically been underserved.
Governments, NGOs, and communities can verify exactly how evidence is generated and processed — no proprietary opacity.
Community-driven development means OFP can evolve, improve, and be maintained without dependence on a single commercial vendor.
Removing cost barriers is not a side benefit — it is the point. Open source is the only model that genuinely democratises access.
Open code ensures that every AI component can be audited for bias, accuracy, and ethical use — a standard proprietary tools cannot meet.
When the tools that produce evidence are open to scrutiny, everyone in the justice process — investigators, defence teams, courts, and communities — can have greater confidence in the outcome.
A phased approach to building, deploying, and growing the OFP platform across the world's most under-resourced jurisdictions.
Mobile triage tool for Android. Core extraction and evidence handling in resource-constrained settings.
iOS support and structured court-ready reporting. Broader platform coverage for frontline investigators.
LLM-driven features: natural language queries, pattern recognition, automated evidence classification.
Global contributor network, training ecosystem, and institutional partnerships with NGOs and universities.
OFP is being built at the intersection of digital justice, human rights, and responsible AI — attracting partners who share a commitment to equitable systems.
Law enforcement agencies, NGOs, first responders, journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society organisations in under-resourced jurisdictions.
International organisations, universities, NGOs, and civil society organisations. Community-driven development and knowledge-sharing at every stage.
Human rights and digital justice grants, partnerships with NGOs and academic institutions, and support from governments and multilateral organisations.
We are seeking partners, funders, and contributors to support MVP development, pilot programs with frontline users, and the training ecosystem that will sustain OFP globally. Every byte matters in the pursuit of justice.