Over half of criminal investigations today involve requests to access electronic evidence held abroad, such as texts, emails and messages sent through apps, Europol reports. The process of obtaining that type of evidence can be difficult. Europol highlights that investigators may not know where the relevant data is stored, and the information can be spread across servers located in different countries. The legal framework also adds complexity. Europol points to a lack of harmonised deadlines for handling requests for cross-border electronic evidence, which can affect how quickly authorities can respond and obtain the information they need. Across Europe’s investigations, these combined barriers—uncertain data location, multiple international hosting sites and differing legal timelines—mean that accessing electronic evidence is often more complicated than traditional evidence gathering. The report identifies these issues as key challenges for law enforcement seeking cross-border access to digital communications and other electronic data used in criminal cases.