These days, it’s very rare to know someone who doesn’t have a social media account. People connect with their friends on different platforms and social media has long become the norm. Government and private companies also access social media to gather information and share their thoughts to the public.
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When private investigators are looking into a person’s activities, is social media of much help to them? The answer is yes. Social media investigations are becoming a common feature of primary investigations. Even before the rise of social media investigators, old-school private investigators have already transitioned to the digital sphere. They have software that can be used to sidestep the privacy settings of accounts.
Investigation through this means provides evidence for court cases. Evidence gathered here helps in establishing a person’s character, proving or disproving an alibi, or collecting other various supporting evidence. Professional social media investigators are knowledgeable on preserving, validating, and presenting evidence according to the rules of the court, and most people on social media are not.
Private investigators follow a protocol that as they gather pieces of evidence. They must not violate laws in order to avoid jeopardizing the validity and authenticity of the evidence handed over to authorities. They rely only partially on social media to conduct their investigations; these professionals—however—are experts in operating on different platforms to fulfill their duties. With cyber threats becoming rampant by the minute, the need for heightened cybersecurity efforts and professional social media investigators is on the rise.
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Image source: pixabay.com
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A private investigator, Adam Quirk has had 15 years of experience working for both US Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. For more updates and reads about private investigations, visit this blog.
