在数字时代，随着信息技术的发展，各类民事纠纷中电子证据的使用愈发广泛，其司法证明价值亦愈加凸显，并逐步成为新一代“证据之王”。同时，由于电子证据呈现出传统证据形态所不具有的复杂特征，在传统证据制度框架下，电子证据也表现出与既有制度的不适配性等问题。为回应电子证据复杂特性所带来的一系列问题，美国2006年《联邦民事诉讼规则（修正案）》构建了一套相对全面的电子证据开示规则。并在2015年对相关规则予以完善，逐渐发展为一套较为完备的制度体系。该制度体系明确了双方当事人诉前电子证据的保全义务，详细规定了电子证据的开示范围、出示形式及保护善意当事人的“安全港”条款等内容。毋庸置疑的是，美国电子证据开示制度对电子化存储信息的特殊性给予有效的回应，在纠纷解决中发挥了积极的作用。更深层次地讲，美国电子证据开示制度与传统证据开示制度不同之处在于，其价值理念及功能亦发生了转变。

纵观我国在此方面已有的相关研究成果，多以旧范式下传统证据开示制度为研究对象，鲜有对美国电子证据开示制度进行体系性研究，尤其是对2015年及之后的美国电子证据开示制度的研究更为甚少。本文将基于对上述问题的思考，在前辈研究的基础上，通过对美国传统证据开示制度与电子证据开示制度进行对比性研究，探寻数字时代电子证据开示制度中富含积极价值的内容，以期为我国数字时代民事诉讼证据制度的发展提供有益的借鉴。

为实现本文的写作目的，通过以下方式展开讨论：第一，从历史的视角看，结合美国政治、经济、法律思想等方面的社会变革以及诉讼环境的转变，对传统证据开示制度的缘起、确立及改革及电子证据开示制度的确立过程、规则内容、运行效果进行全景式的梳理。对美国电子证据开示制度最新改革动向进行考察，把握电子证据开示制度的发展趋势。同时，为电子证据开示制度的理念、价值取向及功能定位的考察作铺垫。第二，探究电子证据开示制度设计的理性与非理性。每项制度均蕴含着一定价值理念，决定着制度的设计方向与构造。因此，通过对电子证据的特性分析，明晰数据时代电子证据与传统证据开示制度存在的不适配性，探寻电子证据开示制度设计的理念、彰显的价值取向及其所发挥的功能。通过对顶层制度设计中的理念、价值、功能的宏观把控，为进一步探寻我国相关电子证据开示制度构造与程序运作提供理论指引。第三，聚焦当下分析电子证据开示制度构造。结合制度设计理念、价值取向及所发挥的功能，着眼于电子证据的独特特征，对电子证据开示的客体范围、主体义务及费用承担等具体问题进行考究，以期抽象出可为我国借鉴的理论，并且为探究制度运作提供要素指南。第四，考察电子证据开示制度的运作机制。通过对电子证据开示制度相关的法律规范、指导手册、相关的司法判例以及学术研究成果进行分析，从当事人自主性与法官案件管理的视角，以电子证据开示模型流程为主线，对电子证据开示前当事人与非当事人的电子证据保全义务，及对电子证据开示的全阶段与违反电子证据开示的救济程序进行全方位梳理，在明晰相关流程的基础上结合经典案例对电子证据开示运作中的具体理论争议予以探讨。第五，对电子证据开示的信息披露机制与电子数据时代敏感性信息的保护平衡问题进行探讨，即探析电子证据开示制度下的保护令。由于保护令在各法院中的司法实践均有所不同，诉讼中形成许多不确定的因素，通过对不同法院的保护令类型，签发标准及程序进行系统梳理，并结合理论进行分析。第六，本文对该制度进行系统梳理及理论升华。从电子证据开示制度的理念、原则等方面进行抽象化阐述，提出应对数字时代电子证据相关问题的重要启示。同时，为后续研究埋下伏笔。

In the digital era, with the development of information technology, electronic evidence has swept all types of civil disputes, and the judicial probative value of electronic evidence has become more and more prominent, becoming the “king of evidence” of a new generation. However, electronic evidence presents complex characteristics that are not found in the form of traditional evidence, so that electronic evidence does not match the institutional framework of traditional evidence. In response to a series of problems caused by the complex nature of electronic evidence, the United States established a relatively comprehensive set of electronic discovery rules in the 2006 amendment to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and improved the relevant rules in 2015, gradually developing into a relatively complete institutional system. The system clarifies the obligation of both parties to preserve electronic evidence before litigation, and specifies in detail the scope of discovery of electronic evidence, the form of presentation, and the "safe harbor" clause to protect bona fide parties. There is no doubt that the U.S. electronic discovery system has effectively responded to the particularity of electronically stored information and played an active role in dispute resolution. Correspondingly, the e-discovery system in the United States is different from the traditional discovery system, and its values and functions have also changed.

Looking at the relevant research results in this area in China, most of them take the traditional evidence discovery system under the old paradigm as the research object, and there are few systematic studies on the electronic discovery system, here is even less research on the e-discovery regime in the United States in 2015 and later. Based on the above issues, this paper will explore the content rich in positive value of the electronic evidence discovery system in the digital age through a comparative study of the traditional evidence discovery system and the electronic evidence discovery system in the United States, in order to provide useful reference for the development of the civil litigation evidence system in the digital age in China.

For the purposes of this article, we will discuss it in the following ways:

Firstly, from a historical perspective, the thesis combines the social changes in politics, economy, and legal thought and the changes in the litigation environment, and conducts a panoramic review of the origin, establishment, and reform of the traditional evidence discovery system, as well as the establishment process, rule content, and operation effect of the electronic evidence discovery system. The thesis examines the latest reform trends of the electronic evidence discovery system in the United States and grasps the development trend of the system. At the same time, it paves the way for the investigation of the concept, value orientation and functional orientation of the electronic evidence discovery system. Secondly, exploring the rationality and irrationality of the design of the electronic discovery system. Each system contains certain values and determines the design direction and structure of the system. Therefore, analyzing the characteristics of electronic evidence, clarifying the incompatibility between electronic evidence and traditional evidence disclosure systems in the data age, exploring the concept of designing electronic evidence disclosure systems, highlighting their value orientations and functions. To provide theoretical guidance for exploring institutional construction and procedural operation, by macro controlling the concepts, values, and functions of top-level design. Thirdly, the thesis focuses on the current analysis of the construction of electronic evidence disclosure system. Combining the design concept, value orientation, and functions of the system, focusing on the unique characteristics of electronic evidence, t examining specific issues such as the object scope, subject obligations, and cost bearing of electronic evidence disclosure, in order to abstract theories that can be used for reference by China and provide element guidelines for exploring the operation of the system. Fourthly, investigating the operation mechanism of electronic evidence discovery system. By analyzing the legal norms, guidance manuals, relevant judicial precedents, and academic research achievements related to the electronic evidence disclosure system, and from the perspective of party autonomy and judge case management, the thesis takes the electronic evidence disclosure model process as the main line, and comprehensively reviews the electronic evidence preservation obligations of parties and non-parties before the electronic evidence disclosure. It also comprehensively reviews the entire stage of electronic evidence disclosure and the relief procedures for violating the electronic evidence disclosure procedure. Based on clarifying the relevant processes, it explores the specific theoretical disputes in the operation of electronic evidence disclosure in combination with classic cases. Fifthly, exploring the balance between the information disclosure mechanism of electronic evidence disclosure and the protection of sensitive information in the era of electronic data, that is, exploring the protection order under the electronic evidence disclosure system. Due to the different judicial practices of different courts in protecting the rights of parties, many uncertain factors are formed in litigation. By systematically sorting out the types, issuance standards, and procedures of protection orders in different courts, and analyzing them in combination with theory. Sixthly, discussing the balance between the information disclosure mechanism and the protection of sensitive information in the era of electronic data, that is, the protection order under the electronic evidence discovery system. Due to the different judicial practices of protection orders in various courts, there are many uncertain factors in litigation. By systematically sorting out the types, issuance standards, and procedures of protection orders in different courts, and combining theory with analysis. Finally, the thesis provides a systematic review and theoretical sublimation of the system. Abstracting elaboration on the concept, principles, and other aspects of the electronic evidence disclosure system, and propose important insights for addressing issues related to electronic evidence in the digital age. At the same time, it lays the groundwork for subsequent research.