Would your AI's records stand up in an English court?

Yes. Under the Civil Evidence Act 1995, business records can be received in evidence on a certificate signed by an officer of the business (s.9), and copies can be used in place of originals (s.8). In criminal cases, the Criminal Justice Act 2003 s.117 admits business documents.

At present there is a common law presumption that a computer was working correctly unless there is evidence to the contrary. After the Post Office Horizon scandal, the Ministry of Justice opened a review of that presumption in January 2025. Records that can be checked independently do not need to rely on it.

Yes. The Electronic Communications Act 2000 s.7 makes electronic signatures admissible as evidence of authenticity and integrity, and the courts have accepted email signatures for documents that must be 'signed', such as guarantees under the Statute of Frauds 1677.

The Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023 s.2 lists the factors: the system's rules, measures to protect integrity, protection against unauthorised access, hardware and software security, independent audits and any applicable standards.

At least 6 years for contract claims (12 for deeds) under the Limitation Act 1980, and 10 years for product liability under s.11A. Accounting records: 6 years for public companies, 3 for private.

Every sealed record has an evidence certificate at sebbi.pro/evidence: the fingerprint, the Merkle proof, the Bitcoin block, how anyone can check it with nothing from sebbi.pro, and a Civil Evidence Act s.9 certificate ready for your officer to sign.