Start With the Account, the Conversation and the Deadline
A business discussion can be spread across Instagram messages, a Facebook page, an X post and WhatsApp on a custodian phone. For South Florida counsel and businesses, the first step is to identify where the material lives and who can provide authorized access. A publicly visible page and a private message history require different plans.
Facebook, Instagram, X and Messaging Sources
We scope collection of available Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) material, along with WhatsApp and other relevant messaging sources. Public posts and profiles can be captured as observed; private records may require an authorized account export, device collection or another permitted source.
An export can omit material visible elsewhere or unavailable under current settings. We identify the account, collection method, requested period and source restrictions. No service can promise access to another person's private messages, all deleted content or data protected by encryption without the necessary access.
Choose the Right Collection Path
For public material, identify the exact URL, profile or post and capture the relevant surrounding context. For an account holder's records, agree on authorized export or access arrangements and what the provider makes available. For device-held conversations, Mobile Device Collections addresses the phone, application and backup options.
WhatsApp is a messaging source. A public web capture does not collect its private conversations. Screenshots supplied by a client can help identify the issue but do not establish an entire conversation or replace the underlying available records.
Preserve Context and Explain the Limits
The collection record can include account and post identifiers, source URLs, available timestamps and time-zone information, attachments, visible interactions, collection dates and the method used. We document unavailable items, access limits and errors rather than filling gaps with assumptions.
Collected content can support an examination of authenticity, chronology or disputed activity. Account ownership, authorship and the truth of a statement are separate questions. Counsel determines the legal significance and the authority for access.
Connect the Collection to Review and Delivery
Agree on who will review the collection, which languages or content types need attention and the receiving party's delivery requirements. We discuss a source-linked handoff, handling notes and any conversion needed for eDiscovery Review Platform. Native records and collection documentation remain distinct from a formatted review copy.
Prepare for the Scoping Call
Bring the information below. Do not send passwords, recovery keys, authentication codes or evidence through the public form.
- Which accounts and content are involved?
Bring profile or post URLs, platform names, custodian details, the relevant dates and a brief description. Do not paste message histories into the form.
- Who can approve access?
Identify the account holder, company administrator and counsel contact. Flag personal accounts and any restrictions on collection.
- What could disappear?
Tell us about planned deletions, disappearing-message settings, account closure or a hearing deadline. Preserve existing material and discuss next steps before changing settings.