Social media exists to share personal details of your every day lives with the world. From photos of reunions and birthdays to updates on what’s going on in your life, your social media use provides details about your life that you ordinarily wouldn’t share with the world. It’s a unique medium that hadn’t existed previously. However, with new technology comes a new tool to use in investigation and with investigation come questions about ethics. In recent years, social media posts have been used more frequently in investigations for crimes and litigation. But, the use of such information comes with an ethical dilemma. To what extent can an attorney use social media in litigation? Check out what you need to know about the use of social media in court and ethics.
Confidentiality.
Attorneys are expected to uphold client confidentiality. When using social media, it’s of the utmost importance for you to keep your client’s identity private. Use extreme discretion when it comes to gathering information through social media.
Misconduct.
Lawyers are prohibited from misleading or deceiving parties involved in a case. This too, extends to the realm of social media. If an attorney should choose to use social media, they must disclose their intent to any third-party contacted.
Truthfulness.
When it comes to using social media in litigation, it’s important to use good judgment. If the evidence is tampered with in any way, then it’s no longer applicable in court. Ethically, attorneys are prohibited from influencing, misleading, or providing false statements to a third party while representing a client. This rule applies to social media, and therefore caution should be used when using social media in a case.
When it comes to the use of social media in court, ensure that it’s used ethically. For assistance finding digital information, use a people search engine. Contact the professionals at Skopenow to help you get the digital information that you need.