Recital 9

The fragmented legal framework creates challenges for law enforcement authorities and judicial authorities as well as for service providers seeking to comply with legal requests for electronic evidence, as they are increasingly faced with legal uncertainty and, potentially, conflicts of law. Therefore, there is a need to provide for specific rules as regards cross-border judicial cooperation for preserving and producing electronic evidence, which address the specific nature of electronic evidence. Such rules should include an obligation on service providers covered by the scope of this Regulation to respond directly to requests stemming from authorities in another Member State. This Regulation will therefore complement the existing Union law and clarify the rules applicable to law enforcement authorities and judicial authorities as well as to service providers in the field of electronic evidence, while ensuring full compliance with fundamental rights.