Technological Requirements for Videoconferencing Judicial Hearings: Enhancing the Credibility and Reliability of Remote Testimonies

TL;DR

This paper identifies technological enhancements needed for videoconferencing in judicial hearings to improve credibility and reliability, proposing specific features like environment verification and security modules based on practical judicial experience.

Contribution

It introduces tailored functionalities for videoconferencing platforms to address credibility issues in remote judicial testimonies, based on practical insights from a judge.

Findings

Proposed features include eye tracking and environment verification.

Security modules can improve witness monitoring.

Enhanced transmission quality supports reliable remote hearings.

Abstract

This paper analyzes the technological requirements necessary to enhance the credibility and reliability of judicial hearings conducted via videoconference, from the internal perspective of the judiciary. Drawing on the practical experience of a judge who conducts daily hearings, this study identifies limitations in current platforms for verifying the authenticity of testimonies and proposes tailored functionalities for the judicial context. Recognizing that remote hearings represent a convenience for the parties without replacing the option of in-person attendance, the article suggests implementing features such as eye tracking, environment verification, and blocking of parallel applications, in addition to improvements in transmission quality. The study concludes that developing specific modules for witnesses - focusing on security and monitoring - can significantly contribute to equalizing the credibility between remote and in-person hearings, thus expanding access to justice without compromising procedural reliability.