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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 primary arenas for bias-motivated crime—ranging from hate speech to organized harassment campaigns. At the same time, online content is ephemeral: it can be removed within minutes. Content disappears, accounts are deleted, and perpetrators remain anonymous. Meanwhile, the initial hours—the moment of first contact with hateful content—are critical.
That is why, step by step, this publication shows what to do: how to save a webpage, how to secure a comment, and how to use publicly available tools that are typically applied in marketing, but in this context become tools 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 crucial role—ranging from web monitoring tools and data analytics to web crawlers. They allow us to see more, react 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 a vacuum. It is the result of years of work by the Jewish Association Czulent: monitoring hate speech, supporting victims, and collaborating with the police and public prosecutor’s office. Every piece of advice 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 Association Czulent has been working at the intersection of new technologies and hate crime. We see how the scale and nature of these phenomena are evolving—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<br/>“social media” providers
- Access to data processed by online platforms for law enforcement authorities
- The evidentiary significance of information obtained and secured using<br/>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.