Abuse Using Technology

Digital evidence is information stored, received, or transmitted in a digital format by an electronic device that can be used in court to help prove your case. Digital evidence is sometimes referred to as electronic evidence. This evidence is often created when abuse involves the use of technology. Here are a few examples:

• When an abusive person sends text messages that contain threats, those texts, or pictures or screenshots of those texts, become digital evidence that can be used in court to help prove the threatening behavior;
• When an abusive person creates harassing posts on social media, those posts, or pictures or screenshots of those posts, become digital evidence that can be used in court to help prove the harassing behavior; or
• When someone uses technology to stalk a victim, in addition to potentially finding a physical GPS or Bluetooth tracking device, there may be evidence in the form of GPS tracking data, account log-in or activity history, video footage, or spyware purchases. Any of these can be used as evidence to help prove surveillance occurred.