Digital Forensics
Forensic examination of computers, mobile devices and other digital sources.
Digital forensics · Digital evidence · Cybercrime
Dr. Nikola Protrka
Assistant Professor and Permanent Court-Appointed Expert Witness in Digital Forensics
Digital forensics expert, former senior law enforcement officer, cybercrime investigator and university lecturer with more than 25 years of professional experience in criminal investigations, digital evidence and cybersecurity.
Profile
Forensic and investigative expertise
Professional practice spans criminal investigation, forensic examination, expert witness work, academic research and specialist education.
Dr. Nikola Protrka is a digital forensics expert, former senior law enforcement officer, cybercrime investigator, court-appointed expert witness and university lecturer. From 1998 to 2026, he served with the Croatian Ministry of the Interior in investigative, operational, training and managerial roles.
His professional experience includes cybercrime investigations, computer and online fraud, ransomware, DDoS attacks, intellectual property crime, digital evidence acquisition and preservation, and the forensic examination of computers, mobile devices and other digital sources.
His work focuses on technically sound examination and clear interpretation of digital evidence for investigative, judicial and academic settings.
Core areas
- Forensics
- Computers, mobile devices and digital sources
- Evidence
- Identification, acquisition, preservation, examination and interpretation
- Investigations
- Cybercrime and technology-enabled crime
- Research
- Artificial intelligence, criminal liability and digital evidence
Digital Evidence
Acquisition, preservation, examination, interpretation and evidential presentation.
Cybercrime
Investigation of computer and online fraud, ransomware, DDoS attacks and related offenses.
Cybersecurity
Security risks, incident context and the investigative implications of cyber events.
Artificial Intelligence
AI systems, emerging technologies and questions of criminal liability.
Data Protection
Privacy, personal data and legal issues arising from digital technologies.
Judicial expertise
Court-appointed expert witness
Dr. Protrka has served as a Permanent Court-Appointed Expert Witness in Informatics and Digital Forensics since 2004. His appointment was most recently renewed in 2024.
He provides independent forensic analysis and expert opinions in judicial proceedings, with particular emphasis on the identification, acquisition, preservation, examination and interpretation of digital evidence.
Expert witness practice
- Status
- Permanent court-appointed expert witness
- Official field
- Digital Forensics
- Jurisdiction
- Republic of Croatia
- Contact
- vjestak@protrka.hr
Experience
Professional and academic background
1998 to 2026
Croatian Ministry of the Interior
Investigative, operational, training and managerial assignments, including cybercrime investigations and digital evidence work.
Since 2004
Permanent Court-Appointed Expert Witness
Independent expert witness practice in informatics and digital forensics, with the latest appointment renewal in 2024.
Since 2011
Higher education and academic work
Teaching and research at the University of Applied Sciences in Criminal Investigation and Public Security and at Algebra Bernays University in Zagreb, with interests in digital forensics, cybercrime, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and data protection.
Research and cooperation
Academic work and international engagement
Current academic work addresses the legal and forensic consequences of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence.
Artificial intelligence and criminal liability
Research includes attribution of responsibility for harmful acts involving AI systems and developments in Croatian criminal law concerning AI-related offenses.
European and international cooperation
Professional activities have included cooperation with CEPOL and ENISA, participation in EU Twinning projects, and specialist training and expertise for domestic and international stakeholders.
Verification
Professional profiles and official records
External links provide professional, judicial and academic references.
Contact
For court expert witness and digital forensics inquiries.