---
title: [Webinar] Leveraging Web and Social Media Evidence
description: Learn how leading law firms collect, preserve, and authenticate online and social media evidence defensibly. Insights from Latham & Watkins, Munger Tolles & Olson, and Page Vault on modern eDiscovery best practices.
---

[Resources ](https://blog.page-vault.com)

# [[Webinar] Leveraging Web and Social Media Evidence ](https://blog.page-vault.com/webinar-leveraging-web-and-social-media-evidence)

 Written by [Page Vault](https://blog.page-vault.com/author/page-vault) | Nov 11, 2025 3:59:43 PM

Litigation no longer stops at emails and custodial data. The most revealing facts often live online — in social posts, websites, videos, and e-commerce listings that can change or disappear overnight.

In a recent webinar hosted by the Association of eDiscovery (ACEDS) and Page Vault, two leading voices in legal technology shared how their firms are tackling these challenges head-on: **Shannon Bales**, Senior Litigation Support Manager at *Munger Tolles & Olson*, and **Warren Singh**, Manager of Practice Support and eDiscovery at *Latham & Watkins*.

Together, they offered an insider look at how large law firms are building defensible, scalable programs for capturing and authenticating web and social media evidence — while balancing risk, ethics, and efficiency.

The conversation, moderated by **Alex Sappington**, Co-CEO of Page Vault, revealed practical insights every litigation support or eDiscovery professional can apply right now to strengthen their online evidence workflows.

## The Rise of Online Evidence Across Practice Areas

> “If your case hinges on a social media post that wasn’t authenticated, you could lose the chance to present critical evidence in court.” – *Shannon Bales, Munger Tolles & Olson*

From IP disputes and employment litigation to financial investigations, nearly every modern case touches online content.  
Common examples include:

- Public LinkedIn or X (Twitter) posts verifying claims or rebutting statements
- Website captures showing false advertising or trademark use
- YouTube or TikTok videos in IP or consumer-protection matters
- Reddit threads or forums in crypto and white-collar cases

> “In crypto and financial cases, you often can’t subpoena the right people — so public online data becomes the only path to key evidence.” – *Warren Singh, Latham & Watkins*

## How Leading Firms Collect and Preserve Online Evidence

Both Bales and Singh agreed: web collection isn’t just a technical task — it’s a consultative process.

At Munger Tolles, the team evolved from ad-hoc captures (“send me the link”) to an intent-driven workflow that starts with attorney collaboration.

> “You can capture ugly — or you can capture something that tells the story perfectly.” – Bales

At Latham & Watkins, strict “no-collection” policies are balanced with Page Vault’s defensible workflow, keeping staff outside the chain of custody and ensuring every capture aligns with Federal Rule of Evidence 902.13.

✅ **Best-practice takeaway:** Treat online evidence collection like a mini-consultation — not a task. Define the “why,” the “what,” and the “how it will appear in court.”

## Authenticity, Affidavits, and Chain of Custody

When web evidence is challenged, defensibility is everything.

> “Nobody needs affidavits … until you do.” – Bales

Both firms rely on Page Vault’s sworn affidavits and audit trail to prove integrity and authenticity. Even large-volume matters remain defensible thanks to standardized documentation that satisfies courts nationwide.

## Navigating Paywalls, Private Content, and Ethical Lines

The panelists stressed that legality matters as much as technology.

- Captures must come from lawful access — trial accounts or client-approved credentials.
- “Friend-requests” or private access circumvention is off-limits.
- Chain of custody must clearly show how and when access was obtained.

 ✅ **Pro tip:** Create firm-wide guidelines for collecting public vs. private data to avoid ethical pitfalls later in discovery.

## Deepfakes, AI, and the Future of Web Authentication

Generative AI has blurred the line between real and fabricated content — making authenticity proof more critical than ever.

> “You can’t stop fakes from being created, but with a defensible capture, you can prove yours isn’t one.” – Bales

While Page Vault doesn’t determine whether something is a deepfake, it verifies the where and when — proving that content existed online at a specific time and URL. As courts grow more skeptical, that audit trail will become indispensable.

## Building a Culture of Online Evidence Readiness

Both speakers have made web capture a core discipline inside their firms — not an occasional task.

> “Go beyond task-taking,” Bales said. “Make it a consultancy.” Singh added, “Choose processes that remove risk — it’s a no-brainer.”

Their shared lesson: internal expertise, consistent tools, and a consultative mindset make digital evidence workflows faster, safer, and far more defensible.

## Key Takeaways

✅ Every matter now includes online evidence.  
✅ Screenshots and print-to-PDFs aren’t defensible.  
✅ Authentication, metadata, and affidavits protect against exclusion.  
✅ The right capture tools streamline risk management and client value.

> “You don’t want discovery to become a sideshow. Use the right tools, and you’ll never have to worry about defensibility again.” – Singh

## Watch the Webinar Replay ⬇️

 

[View full post](https://blog.page-vault.com/webinar-leveraging-web-and-social-media-evidence)

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