Social media and location-based services play a huge role in the lives of college students today. As technology continues to grow and evolve, these tools become more important in criminal investigations and legal cases.
Lawyers and law enforcement agencies must adjust their evidence-gathering and defense strategies to make use of this new digital information.
Digital footprints
Digital footprints are the traces that people leave online through social media and location-based apps. With college students often being very active online, their digital footprints can impact criminal cases. Police sometimes request access to students’ social media profiles and location data to create timelines, check alibis or identify potential witnesses.
Privacy concerns
The use of technology in evidence collection brings up privacy issues. Students should pay close attention to the privacy settings on their social media accounts and location-tracking apps. Defense lawyers need to ensure that law enforcement gathers digital evidence legally and that it follows privacy laws and constitutional rights.
Challenges with digital evidence
Digital evidence can provide a lot of useful information but also has its challenges. Defense lawyers should carefully check location data, as it can sometimes be incorrect. Social media posts, messages and images also need careful review because they might not show the full picture of a person’s actions or intentions.
Changing legal standards
As technology improves, so do the rules that govern its use in court cases. Lawyers often rely on digital experts to help find and save digital evidence while making sure it meets the strict standards required in court.
Social media and location data play a growing role in legal cases today. Both students and legal professionals must understand the impact of digital evidence and handle it responsibly to protect people’s rights.
