It is the age of the cell phone. Everyone has one. They’re often connected to other technologically profound devices as well, such as security cameras or even doorbells. As information gathering devices, cell phones have fantastic potential. But have you ever wondered if you can use any of that evidence in a court case?

The answer is sometimes you can, but sometimes you can’t. There are certain rules around data privacy and so if you are curious to find out if you can use your cell phone information in a case, be sure to talk to an attorney first. It’s also essential that you recognize the power of video in particular. If you have videotaped something that proves your point in a legal setting, you should use that to your advantage.

You must understand how privacy works with text messages as well. You might assume that your messages are private but this is not always the case as mobile forensics specialists are able to extract the data from your mobile phone. This is why if you ever find yourself up in court, then your text messages may either work for or against you.

Talk to an Attorney First

If you are ever trying to defend yourself to the best of your ability, you can use digital technology to your advantage, but to find out if it’s admissible, you need to talk to an attorney. They will tell you what might work in court and what might not. If you have original source videos, audio, or messages, that will work in your favor. But if you have doctored anything or taken digital information out of context. That is less likely to have the kind of legal weight that you want.

Recognize the Power of Cellphone Video

Every day on the Internet, you see cell phone videos. Sometimes it’s part of the news. Sometimes it’s part of someone’s personal feed. When it comes to using this footage in a court case, there are still several different perspectives to think about.

Depending on the type of case, the judge you get, and the demographics of the jury, cell phone video may be more or less useful to prove your point. Make sure that you don’t rely on it too heavily in case the validity of the evidence you present is not enough for some people.

Be Aware of Privacy Regarding Text Messages

Can you use text messages in court? Millions of people ask this question, and the answer is sometimes complicated. If you try to hide or delete messages, there are ways that the police can go to your cell phone provider and get that archived information.

There are also encrypted message services that may or may not be visible in certain hardware and software combinations. And there is the matter of freedom of speech and protected security matters to deal with as well. Since cell phone use is still relatively new, the law has not caught up with certain aspects.