Investigating Social Networking Sites

Abstract

This chapter is intended to provide investigators an understanding of social networking and their significance to investigations. Social networking has become a large part of the investigator’s Internet resources for locating and identifying useful information. Social media sites can also provide the investigator with a large amount of data on the target’s behavior that can tend to show their culpability or motivation in illegal activity. Additionally, metadata present in some social media setting can provide location information. This data can be important to place a subject in a particular geographic area or may lead to their apprehension. Clearly, social media information has changed the investigative landscape and is now considered one of the initial steps in any investigation.