User Anonymity And Legal Accountability On Social Media

Last Updated March 2024

Per the Electronic Privacy Information Center, anonymity is a vital democratic concept, enabling individuals to participate in politics, disseminate ideas, express views, and practice spiritual beliefs without fearing public retaliation or government intervention. Maintaining anonymity online can be difficult, as the collection of identifying information is a common practice in social media and other digital industries, and the uses of that data, including redistribution to third parties, are often unclear. Digital surveillance can endanger the ability of a person to express themselves without someone knowing who they are and put them at risk of retaliation; on the other hand, one notable drawback of social media anonymity is the lack of accountability when freedom of expression is abused.

Expert Witness Amendment to Federal Evidence Rule 702: What it means

Last Updated March 2024

Recent changes to Federal Rule of Evidence (FRE) 702 are pivotal in determining the admissibility of expert testimony in federal courts. These amendments, which were approved by the U.S. Supreme Court and took effect on December 1, 2023, aim to clarify and refine the criteria for expert witness qualifications and their testimony's admissibility.

Feature Release: Introducing Page Vault's Web-Based Capture Mode

Last Updated March 2024

We are thrilled to announce an enhancement to our platform that will simplify how you make your web captures. Say hello to our latest feature: Web-Based Capture Mode!

Reconstructing The Digital Scene: Timelines In Social Media Litigation

Last Updated March 2024

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, social media plays a pivotal role in shaping personal and corporate communication. Yet, this vast digital interaction space is not without its legal complexities. With a staggering 95% of young Americans aged between 13 and 17 engaging in social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, the legal ramifications are both vast and intricate. This blog post unpacks various aspects of social media litigation, from privacy and data management concerns to copyright and defamation issues. It offers a comprehensive overview of how these digital platforms are intertwined with legal challenges and the implications for the practice of law, particularly in evidence gathering and litigation.

Establishing Authenticity of Websites

Last Updated April 2024

Applying the rules of evidence to contemporary digital records can present a variety of complications. Admitting some types of evidence, such as government websites, can be straightforward. However, ensuring websites can be admitted can be difficult in many jurisdictions. Further, individual judges may sometimes take idiosyncratic approaches to the admissibility of websites and other forms of digital evidence, especially when they do not personally understand the technology involved. Simplifying the process for establishing the authenticity of websites can be helpful in ensuring that website evidence vital to a case is deemed admissible in court.

Capturing Instagram Social Media As Evidence

Last Updated April 2024

According to its parent company, Meta, Instagram has over 2 billion active monthly users. Not only individuals, but over 200 million businesses globally have Instagram accounts.  Pew Research states that over 70% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 use the platform, and finds that this generation is comfortable with sharing personal details and depictions of their lives on social media – including photos, interests, relationship statuses, videos, and much more. For many Americans, Instagram serves as a running record of their daily activities, providing a wealth of data to onlookers. Businesses rely on this user base for advertising by utilizing sponsored posts, engaging content, influencer partnerships, and Instagram Shopping features. For law firms, this data represents vital evidence that can alter outcomes of both civil and criminal cases.