Abstract
Over the last few decades, in
criminal proceedings, the investigators have been increasingly using forensic
biometrics techniques in order to determine or verify the identity of a subject
through the automated use of physiological parameters. Voice print is a particularly
important technique to identify a person. The urge to utilize voice-tracking in
investigations has gradually increased due to an increase in the number of
devices employed for remote communication and via the Internet; consequently,
techniques aimed at making the user's identity anonymous have improved. This is
not enough, though. Islamic terrorist acts and cyber threats are leading the
state response to a retreat to unprecedented forms of crime prevention, with
the main purpose of neutralizing the offense and prevent devastating damages
from happening. Among the new preventive investigation techniques, forensic
linguistics plays a fundamental role for intelligence bodies of governments.
Despite the centrality of
linguistics and forensic phonetics in criminal investigations, national
legislation appears to be not very avant-garde: in spite of what happens in
other countries, no regulation of phonic investigation exists, thus causing a
hindrance to the procedural use of the acquired evidence.
This paper provided an overview of
the state of the art of repressive and preventive vocal investigations in
Italy, identifying possible solutions de jure condendo.
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