Many people use online communications and this could have a number of legal implications. Smartphones, tablets and laptops can be connected to the Internet very easily and this provides users with readily available information. The Internet world is literally smorgasbord of data – sport stats heaven, facts galore and other relevant details for each user. Private communications could also be performed more easily on the Internet, through email, social media and instant messaging. In this case, there’s a possibility that electronic communication is used as evidences in the court. During the evidence gathering process, anything can be used to decide the conclusion of a case.
During the evidence gathering phase, each party will try to find anything that can be used against the other side. These items can be submitted as evidence in the court. Online record and documents kept by someone can become important evidences. In some cases, they can be seized through the issuance of warrant. When online evidences are gathers, anything that is created, used and stored in digital forms can be collected for analysis and possible use in the courtroom. Electronic evidence is no longer a new thing and it often becomes an important factor to conclude a case. However, due to the enormous amount of information stored in multiple devices, this can be a time-consuming process.
Email messages can be used as evidences if proper procedures are exercised. However, a significant amount of effort cold be expended when someone want to prove the existence of specific email messages. In some cases, some of the emails sought are never discovered. This could happen if they have been deleted before the case begins. The perpetrators may realize that the content of the email can pose specific risks. When the right email messages are discovered, the court should be able to verify that they are relevant with the case.
Chats, instant messaging and text messages are also based on text, so they can be treated like standard email during the evidence gathering process. These messages can be kept in mobile devices or standard computers. Records should be preserved for a period of time and can be recovered intact. Online communication can also be performed through social media services, such as Facebook and Twitter. The court could order the examination of the account owned by specific individuals, especially inside the private message feature. In major cases, social media services could be requested to recover private messages of specific accounts.