Social Media & Online Investigations

This two-day course provides law enforcement officers, crime analysts, and prosecutors with the practical skills needed to investigate criminal activity online. Participants will learn how to obtain and preserve data from social media companies through both court orders and open-source intelligence (OSINT) techniques, giving them the ability to collect evidence without relying solely on legal process.

Key areas of instruction include undercover online identities, advanced Google search strategies, internet protocol (IP) investigations, and safe navigation of the dark web. Students will also receive hands-on training with forensic mapping tools to analyze geolocation data from platforms such as Snapchat, as well as practical instruction on leveraging data from rideshare services, smart devices, and major technology providers.

By the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify and map social media accounts linked to investigative targets

• Preserve, request, and analyze data from major platforms

• Create and use anonymous online profiles for investigative purposes

• Conduct advanced online searches to uncover hidden information

• Utilize over 250 free investigative websites and tools to strengthen cases

Requirements: Students must bring a laptop or Windows tablet (no iPads) with internet access, Google Earth Pro for Desktop installed, and a mouse.