What is HTS Record? How to Obtain an HTS Report?
HTS record is a report containing historical information about a GSM line, including phone calls, messages, call duration, call time, call location, and connected base stations. HTS stands for “Historical Traffic Search” in English, and is called “Communication Traffic Query” in Turkish.
An HTS (Historical Traffic Search) Report is a technical report used in judicial investigations or legal disputes, containing historical communication traffic records of a GSM line, analyzed and presented by an expert. These reports include information such as mobile phone numbers, connection times, duration, calling and called numbers, connected base stations, and IP addresses. By simplifying and interpreting phone records, it helps courts and relevant authorities understand technical data.
In digital forensics processes, an HTS report serves as important digital evidence in clarifying an incident. However, this report does not show the content of conversations; it only provides duration, time, and location information related to communication traffic.
What is HTS Record?
HTS records include information about calling and called numbers, date and time of calls, call duration, and base station connections during calls. This enables the determination of:
Who a person communicates with,
Which areas they were present in,
When and how long their conversations lasted.
These reports are critical sources for phone traffic examination in investigations.
How to Obtain an HTS Report?
Obtaining an HTS report is only possible through legal channels.
Prosecutor’s Office or Court Order: According to Article 135 of the Criminal Procedure Code, HTS records can only be obtained through a judge’s order or, in urgent cases, by prosecutor’s instruction.
BTK and GSM Operators: Following the order, BTK or the relevant GSM operator shares the records.
Reporting: The obtained HTS data is analyzed by experts and converted into an HTS report that can be used in courts.
It is not possible to query HTS records individually. These records can only be requested by judicial authorities, lawyers (on behalf of their clients), or courts.
Content and Purpose of HTS Report
- Analysis of Traffic Records:
HTS reports examine the history of communications made through phones.
- Extraction of Technical Data:
The report includes details such as phone number, call time, call duration, connection type, connected base stations, and IP address.
- Forensic Use:
HTS records used as evidence in legal proceedings (case files) are important for determining the communications and locations of suspects or defendants.
- Communication Detection:
Enables the detection of individuals’ communications and their location (through base station information).
- Proving Innocence or Guilt:
Records can provide technical evidence that can prove the occurrence of an event or a person’s innocence.
How to Obtain an HTS Report?
- Through Legal Authorities:
HTS records are obtained by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) upon request from official bodies such as prosecutor’s office, court, or law enforcement units.
- Expert Examination:
Due to their complex nature, HTS records to be presented to court are usually analyzed by an IT expert or specialist and converted into a comprehensible report.
- Technical Evidence:
It serves as strong material and technical evidence in legal disputes.
- Verification of Evidence:
Helps clarify events by showing when and where a communication line was used and with whom communication occurred.
- Correlating Two Different Points:Phone records can verify or disprove an event by determining whether two different people or devices were present at the same base station at specific times.
In which Crimes are HTS Records Used?
HTS records serve as evidence in solving many crimes under the Turkish Criminal Code. Especially:
Murder, threats, robbery, fraud, drug trafficking
Human trafficking, sexual assault and abuse
Terrorism and organized crime
Examination of communication traffic in divorce and custody cases
According to Supreme Court decisions, HTS data alone is not sufficient for conviction, but becomes strong supporting evidence when combined with other evidence.
Legal Framework
Article 135 of CMK : Regulates the conditions for communication detection and evaluation of signal information.
Law No. 5651: Determines GSM operators’ obligation to store HTS records.
Storage period: Generally 5 years, though older records may be retrieved in exceptional cases.
Importance of HTS Records in Criminal Law
In criminal cases, HTS reports can show where a suspect or defendant was and with whom they communicated during an incident. However:
No content → HTS only provides call information, not conversation content.
Not sufficient alone → Must be supported by other evidence for conviction.
Must be legally obtained → Records obtained without court order are invalid.
HTS Records in Divorce Cases
HTS records can also be used as evidence in divorce cases. Especially in cases of infidelity and adultery claims, spouses’ communication traffic is recorded and evaluated by the court.
Precedent decisions of the Supreme Court clearly state that HTS data must be fully incorporated into the file, otherwise no judgment can be made.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an HTS record?
An HTS record is a report containing historical communication traffic (calls, messages, base station) of a GSM line.
How to obtain an HTS report?
HTS reports can only be obtained from BTK and GSM operators through a judge’s or prosecutor’s request. Individual queries are not possible.
How long are HTS records kept?
GSM operators are generally required to store HTS records for 5 years.
Can conversation content be retrieved from HTS records?
No. HTS only includes call duration, time, number, and base station information.
Can HTS records be used in divorce cases?
Yes. HTS reports can be used as supporting evidence, especially in infidelity claims.
Conclusion
HTS records and HTS reports are among the most critical evidence in digital forensics processes for revealing phone traffic. However, it should be remembered that these records do not show communication content and are not sufficient alone for judgment.
As DNA Criminal & Digital Forensics, we provide professional support with our expert team in HTS records, phone traffic examination, and base station analysis, and prepare scientific reports that can be used in cases.
📌 Contact us for HTS record analysis.
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