Online content is ephemeral. Posts are deleted, accounts are suspended, pages are modified. If antisemitic content is not properly documented at the point of discovery, the evidence may be permanently lost. Effective evidence preservation is a critical OSINT skill.

Why Preservation Matters

Evidence serves multiple downstream purposes: - **Legal proceedings**: Courts require authenticated evidence that demonstrates chain of custody - **Platform reporting**: Detailed reports with evidence are more likely to result in content removal - **Institutional complaints**: Employers, universities, and other institutions need documented evidence to act - **Trend analysis**: Preserved evidence enables longitudinal research on antisemitism patterns - **Public accountability**: Documented evidence supports journalism and public awareness

What to Capture

For each piece of online content, capture:

The content itself: Full screenshot of the post, comment, or page. Include surrounding context - the thread, the profile, the timestamp. Do not crop selectively.

Metadata: URL, date and time of capture, platform, account name, account creation date (if visible), follower/subscriber count, engagement metrics (likes, shares, comments).

Context: What prompted the content? Is it a reply to another post? Part of a coordinated campaign? Related to a current event? Context transforms a screenshot into usable intelligence.

Technical details: Use your browser's developer tools to capture page source if relevant. Note whether the content was behind age restrictions or content warnings.

Tools and Methods

Screenshots: The most basic but essential tool. Use full-page screenshot extensions to capture entire threads. Always include the browser URL bar in screenshots to prove the source.

Web archiving: Submit URLs to the Wayback Machine (archive.org) or archive.today to create timestamped, third-party verified copies. These carry more evidentiary weight than personal screenshots.

Screen recording: For video content or content that requires scrolling, screen recordings preserve more context than static screenshots.

Hash verification: Generate SHA-256 hashes of saved files to prove they have not been modified after capture.

Legal Considerations

In the Netherlands and across the EU, evidence gathered from public sources is generally admissible in legal proceedings, provided it was obtained lawfully. However, the manner of collection and the chain of custody can affect its weight.

GDPR applies to personal data even when that data is publicly available. Storing personal information about identified or identifiable individuals requires a lawful basis under Article 6 GDPR.