The article discusses the challenges of collecting electronic evidence (e-evidence) across borders in criminal investigations. With the rise of digital technologies, criminals increasingly use online services to operate across jurisdictions, leaving digital traces globally. E-evidence, stored, transmitted, or processed by devices like phones or computers, often contains crucial evidence of criminal intent and activities. However, current legal frameworks and mutual legal assistance treaties are inadequate for addressing the volatile and international nature of e-evidence. The study evaluates existing regulations, identifies barriers, and proposes solutions for effective cross-border e-evidence collection. It highlights the need for harmonized data categorization, direct cooperation with service providers, and streamlined procedures. The research uses qualitative methods, including surveys and grounded theory analysis, to examine legal practitioners' perspectives and existing frameworks. Key findings include the lack of a consistent definition and categorization of digital data across Member States, which hinders effective e-evidence requests. Legal practitioners also noted a need for continued professional development in digital investigation. The Council of Europe's Cybercrime Convention (CCC) and the European Investigation Order (EIO) Directive are found to be limited in addressing the complexities of cross-border e-evidence collection. The European Commission has proposed a new regulation for production and preservation orders, enabling direct access to e-evidence and appointing legal representatives within service providers. This regulation aims to address the identified barriers by harmonizing data categorization and facilitating seamless cooperation among stakeholders. However, the proposed regulation has limitations, such as unclear mechanisms for enforcing pecuniary sanctions on service providers. The study concludes that addressing the challenges of cross-border e-evidence gathering is crucial for efficient investigation and prosecution of crimes, safeguarding public safety and upholding justice in an interconnected society. Continuous research, evaluation, and refinement of the regulatory framework are necessary to ensure its effectiveness and compliance with fundamental rights and the rule of law. Collaboration among legal practitioners, law enforcement agencies, and academic institutions is essential to develop specialized training programs and knowledge-sharing platforms to tackle the challenges of cross-border e-evidence collection.The article discusses the challenges of collecting electronic evidence (e-evidence) across borders in criminal investigations. With the rise of digital technologies, criminals increasingly use online services to operate across jurisdictions, leaving digital traces globally. E-evidence, stored, transmitted, or processed by devices like phones or computers, often contains crucial evidence of criminal intent and activities. However, current legal frameworks and mutual legal assistance treaties are inadequate for addressing the volatile and international nature of e-evidence. The study evaluates existing regulations, identifies barriers, and proposes solutions for effective cross-border e-evidence collection. It highlights the need for harmonized data categorization, direct cooperation with service providers, and streamlined procedures. The research uses qualitative methods, including surveys and grounded theory analysis, to examine legal practitioners' perspectives and existing frameworks. Key findings include the lack of a consistent definition and categorization of digital data across Member States, which hinders effective e-evidence requests. Legal practitioners also noted a need for continued professional development in digital investigation. The Council of Europe's Cybercrime Convention (CCC) and the European Investigation Order (EIO) Directive are found to be limited in addressing the complexities of cross-border e-evidence collection. The European Commission has proposed a new regulation for production and preservation orders, enabling direct access to e-evidence and appointing legal representatives within service providers. This regulation aims to address the identified barriers by harmonizing data categorization and facilitating seamless cooperation among stakeholders. However, the proposed regulation has limitations, such as unclear mechanisms for enforcing pecuniary sanctions on service providers. The study concludes that addressing the challenges of cross-border e-evidence gathering is crucial for efficient investigation and prosecution of crimes, safeguarding public safety and upholding justice in an interconnected society. Continuous research, evaluation, and refinement of the regulatory framework are necessary to ensure its effectiveness and compliance with fundamental rights and the rule of law. Collaboration among legal practitioners, law enforcement agencies, and academic institutions is essential to develop specialized training programs and knowledge-sharing platforms to tackle the challenges of cross-border e-evidence collection.