The challenge facing private investigators in Boise with social media investigations goes far beyond the simple screenshot. In fact, a screenshot may be enough proof for you but there is a whole lot more evidence required if a court case uses social media information.
The key behind the successful use of data collected from such sites as Facebook and MySpace is being able to properly authenticate the information. This takes on a completely different layer of information which does not appear in a screenshot. In fact, a screenshot does not include any of the information known as metadata. In other words, it just scratches the surface.
The Kinds Of Metadata Collected
As the private investigators in Boise will explain to you that while a screenshot is some kind of evidence, it is nothing more than an electronic capture of content. The forms of metadata required to properly authenticate a photo or other piece of information pulled from a social media feed include but are not limited to the following:
- URLs of links that are included in the original online posting
- The unique ID of the thread the original message appears in
- The platform plus applications used in creating the original post
- The total number of post comments that appear related to the original
Provided all of these pieces of the metadata puzzle have been properly collected and preserved, they can work together with other kinds of evidence, including non-digital, to authenticate a post. Without the proper tools and knowledge of metadata, evidence collected may not stand up in court so it is essential that social media investigations are conducted thoroughly.
The Right Tools Make The Difference
Just like a carpenter will tell you, without the correct tool for the job, there is going to be a problem concerning quality of craftsmanship. The same can be said about social media investigations. However, the tools necessary for gathering digital metadata have been developed in recent years. The private investigators in Boise know how to use these tools when required.
For More Information Contact Custer Agency
Are you in need of better evidence related to a matter where social media contains the information that can help with your case? Call the private investigators in Boise at Custer Agency for assistance. They have experience in this relatively new form of evidence gathering and can locate and preserve the metadata you will need to use as evidence in your case.
