CC-BYhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Ochnio, Ariadna H.Wycichowski-Kuchta, Gniewomir2026-02-172026-02-172025https://e-bp.inp.pan.pl/handle/123456789/980This paper examines the implications of cyberspace on criminal investigations, particularly regarding corruption involving politically exposed persons (PEPs). It highlights the challenges posed by the non-territorial nature of cyberspace, which complicates traditional concepts of jurisdiction and sovereignty. The study explores the growing significance of open-source intelligence and the roles of civilian actors, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and investigative journalism, in achieving criminal justice purposes. It points out the lack of a regulatory framework for civilian OSINT in the European legal environment: the Budapest Convention on cybercrime and the EU e-evidence package. The authors argue that this evolving landscape necessitates the reevaluation of classic criminal investigations, advocating for public private partnerships and outsourcing the tasks as a response to the challenges arising from the openness of cyberspace.encyberspace, e-evidence, open-source intelligence (OSINT), civilian criminal investigations, investigative journalism, EU e-evidence package, Budapest Convention, transparency, civil society cyberprzestrzeń; dowody elektroniczne; wywiad oparty na otwartych źródłach (OSINT); obywatelskie dochodzenia karne; dziennikarstwo śledcze; pakiet UE dotyczący dowodów elektronicznych; Konwencja budapeszteńska; przejrzystość życia publicznego; społeczeństwo obywatelskieArticle