A Comparative Analysis of the Status and Legal Requirements of Using Artificial Intelligence in Criminal Investigations, with Emphasis on the Iranian Criminal Justice System

Abstract

In the contemporary world, the integration of emerging technologies into law-enforcement and judicial processes has fundamentally transformed the traditional paradigm of criminal investigation. Accordingly, the present study aims to analyze the status and legal requirements governing the use of artificial intelligence in criminal investigations, with particular emphasis on the Iranian criminal justice system. The significance and necessity of this study arise from the fact that, despite enhancing the efficiency of processing and analyzing large volumes of criminal data, intelligent decision-support systems have created serious and far-reaching challenges to the protection of defendants’ fundamental rights and the principles of a fair trial. These developments have made it increasingly necessary to reconsider the rules governing algorithmic accountability and judicial security. The principal research question is how the legal requirements and legislative challenges associated with the use of artificial intelligence tools in criminal investigation procedures can be explained and appropriately balanced within the Iranian legal system. The findings indicate that the absence of an explicit legal framework constitutes the principal obstacle to ensuring algorithmic transparency and accountability in the administration of smart justice. It is therefore necessary to revise the traditional rules governing evidence and to adopt specific regulations for managing the risks arising from automated analyses, thereby establishing an appropriate balance between the discovery of truth and the protection of human dignity. This study employs a descriptive-analytical research method based on library research and the examination of domestic and international legal instruments.