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Internet Evidence- New Methods
How to effectively document bias-motivated crimes online
In an era of the growing number of hate crimes on the Internet, it is becoming crucial not only to respond, but above all to effectively secure evidence. This publication has been created with victims, social organizations, lawyers, and law enforcement representatives in mind. It demonstrates how to use new technologies—from simple methods of recording content to advanced monitoring tools and web crawlers—to genuinely increase the chances of holding perpetrators accountable. It is a practical guide based on the experience of the Jewish Czulent Association and the expertise of specialists, including experienced prosecutors.
Today, the Internet has become one of the main places where bias-motivated crimes occur—from hate speech to organized campaigns of attacks. At the same time, content published online is fleeting: it can be removed within minutes. Posts disappear, accounts are deleted, and perpetrators remain anonymous. Meanwhile, those first hours—the moment of encountering hateful content—are crucial.
That is why, in this publication, we show step by step what to do: how to save a webpage, how to preserve a comment, and how to use publicly available tools which are normally used for marketing, but in practice can become instruments in the fight for justice.
Today, it is no longer possible to effectively monitor the Internet “manually.” The scale of the phenomenon is simply too vast. That is why technology is playing an increasingly important role—tools for online monitoring, data analysis, and web crawlers. They make it possible to see more, respond faster, and document phenomena that previously remained out of reach.
In the publication, we show how to use them—consciously and responsibly.
This material was not created in isolation from reality. It is the result of years of work by the Jewish Czulent Association: monitoring hateful content, supporting victims, and cooperating with the police and prosecutors. Every recommendation you will find here has been tested in practice—in real cases, with real people who needed support.
We also invited experts to contribute to its preparation—including experienced prosecutors. As a result, the publication combines a social and legal perspective, showing what the path looks like from reporting an incident to criminal proceedings.
For years, the Jewish Czulent Association has been working at the intersection of new technologies and hate crimes. We see how the scale and nature of these phenomena are changing—and we know that the response must keep pace with reality.
That is why we combine social experience, expert knowledge, and modern tools. We develop solutions that respond to real needs—both of victims and of the institutions responsible for upholding the law.
Table of contents
- Use of Internet Monitoring Tools by Victims and Organizations
- Securing publicly available data processed by online platforms by the parties involved in the proceedings
- Introduction – computer data as evidence in criminal proceedings
- The type and scope of data processed by online platforms, including
“social media” providers - Access to data processed by online platforms for law enforcement authorities
- The evidentiary significance of information obtained and secured using
web crawling and big data software - Rules for formulating evidentiary motions
Cooperation and support
This publication was developed as part of the project “New Methods of Gathering Evidence on Antisemitic Crimes Committed on Social Media,” co-funded by the Coalition to Counter Online Antisemitism (CCOA).
This publication was developed as part of the project “Online Antisemitism in Poland: establishment of a legal aid helpdesk, reporting and advocacy activities,” funded by the Foundation Remembrance, Responsibility and Future, and implemented by the Jewish Czulent Association.