Digital forensics and information security in the era of artificial intelligence: Exploring new approaches and ethical implications

As our digital lives get more complex, the traces we leave behind have turned into a vast landscape of evidence, and potential threats. Digital forensics now faces challenges not just from the overwhelming amount of data but also from the clever tactics employed by cybercriminals. Traditional methods are struggling to keep up, which is where artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) come into play. They provide automated triage, pattern recognition, anomaly detection, and multimedia analysis, all of which significantly enhance the speed, accuracy, and depth of investigations. With AI-enhanced tools, investigators can uncover hidden connections, identify fraudulent activities, and validate digital evidence across various networks, devices, and cloud platforms. While AI brings a lot of exciting possibilities, it also opens up a can of ethical and legal worms. We're talking about issues like algorithmic bias, privacy concerns, the need for explainability, and who's really accountable when it comes to decisions made in forensic contexts. In this review, we bring together the latest findings on AI in digital forensics, underlining its revolutionary possibilities and the critical need for ethical and responsible application.