5 Ways How Social Media Posts Can Impact Criminal Investigations
Read this article to know more about how social media posts can influence criminal law cases by revealing locations, intentions, digital communications, and other evidence that may be used during investigations.
Social media use is widespread in the U.S., with approximately 310 million users last year. That's over 93% of the nation's population.
So, it goes without saying that hundreds of millions of people are accustomed to posting images, opinions, and experiences—often for everyone to see.
These posts provide people with an opportunity to communicate with others or to express their own feelings. At the same time, using social media means leaving digital footprints that can come back to haunt people weeks, months, or even years later. In fact, any criminal defense attorney will advise clients to take a break from social media during court cases.
Increasingly, law enforcement agencies, attorneys, and courts examine social media posts to find information that can either condemn or exonerate people facing criminal charges. What may appear to be insignificant or trivial on social media can be crucial evidence in court cases.
With that said, here are five ways social media posts can influence criminal law cases.1. Social Media Posts Can Be Used to Establish Someone's Location
Knowing someone's location can be important in criminal investigations. People tend to share their locations online without carefully considering the potential consequences.
Some examples include posting geotagged photos, check-ins at stores or events, stories with pictures of identifiable surroundings, and travel plans.
Investigators can compare social media posts with other available evidence, such as surveillance videos, cell tower information, and witness statements. In particular, if a suspect claims to have been somewhere during a specific period of time and simultaneously makes geotagged photos from another location during this period, investigators can question the person's statements and consider these posts as valuable evidence against the suspect.2. Social Media Posts Can Reveal Someone's Motives, Intentions, and State of Mind
It's no secret that people tend to share their opinions and experiences on social media. In some criminal cases, this can provide investigators with a treasure trove of information about a suspect's real motives. For instance, making threatening messages, expressing anger toward a particular person, or posting hostile rebuttals may be useful in court.
Posts of this kind can't in and of themselves provide a full accounting of someone's motives and intentions. So, investigators will also focus on the wider circumstances and context to come to correct conclusions that will hold up in court.3. Posts Can Contradict Someone's Statements
One reason why social media posts are reviewed during criminal investigations is that they can contain contradictory information regarding someone's statements. For instance, people who participate in investigations may do one or more of the following:
So, posts on social media can raise serious concerns about statements provided during investigations. It's also worth noting that deleted social media posts can be found by investigators using special software and techniques.4. Photos and Videos Can Be Considered as Digital Evidence
Since almost everyone now has a smartphone capable of taking high-quality photos and recording videos, these files have become valuable digital evidence in criminal investigations. These posts allow investigators to do the following:
It should be noted that, in addition to the photos and videos themselves, metadata attached to them may also be obtained.5. Online Communications Can Become Evidence
Social media platforms aren't limited to public posts. Many also facilitate private communications through direct messages, group chats, comments, and other forms of interaction.
Depending on the circumstances and applicable legal procedures, these communications may become relevant during criminal investigations. Examples include the following:
Digital communications can provide investigators with insight into individuals involved in criminal cases.
Social media has become widely used in criminal investigations and has significantly changed how law enforcement agencies conduct them. As digital technology continues to evolve, social media will likely play an even greater role in criminal investigations.
Understanding how online activity can affect legal matters is increasingly important for anyone who participates in today's connected digital world.
