Court Ruling Shakes Up Drug Cases Based on Encrypted Messages

A recent court decision in Valencia, Spain, has sent shockwaves through Europe's legal system, especially in drug-related cases. The court acquitted all defendants in a major cocaine case, casting doubt on the reliability of evidence from encrypted phone networks like Sky ECC. The case centered around a cocaine seizure at the Port of Valencia in 2020. Authorities found 258 pounds of cocaine in a shipping container. However, the real drama unfolded when they started looking at messages from Sky ECC, an encrypted messaging service. These messages suggested that the shipment was supposed to be much larger—over 2, 800 pounds. This discrepancy became a major issue. The problem? The defense couldn't access the raw data from Sky ECC. They only had filtered extracts, like spreadsheets and translated conversations. Without the original data, it was impossible to verify if the messages were complete, accurate, or even genuine. The court ruled that this lack of access violated the defendants' right to a fair trial. This ruling has big implications. Across Europe, many people have been convicted based on encrypted messages from services like Sky ECC and EncroChat. These messages often come from foreign law enforcement, and courts have been asked to trust them without being able to verify the data. The Valencia court made it clear that this isn't good enough. Evidence needs to be verifiable, especially when people's freedom is at stake.The court's decision doesn't dispute the existence of the cocaine or the container. But it does reject the idea that encrypted messages alone can prove who is responsible. Without independently verifiable evidence, prosecutors can't make that leap. As a result, all defendants were acquitted. This ruling is part of a broader trend. Courts in other European countries are also starting to question the reliability of encrypted message evidence. In Italy, for example, courts have excluded EncroChat evidence and ordered further scrutiny of Sky ECC data. These rulings could lead to numerous appeals and legal challenges, putting many convictions at risk. For years, encrypted phone networks like Sky ECC and EncroChat have been a major tool for law enforcement. They've led to mass arrests and headlines. But now, courts are demanding more transparency and verifiability. The era of prosecutions based on secrecy and scale alone might be coming to an end. In Valencia, the cocaine was real. But the chats weren't enough to prove the defendants' guilt. This ruling is a wake-up call for law enforcement and courts across Europe. They need to ensure that evidence is reliable and verifiable, or risk seeing more cases fall apart in court.