https://thehill.com/policy/technolo...-data-aid-law-enforcement-investigations-into
"The Department of Justice has already charged dozens of people associated with the riots just over one week after the event took place. Law enforcement experts say that social media has not only helped track these individuals, but provided ample evidence for prosecutors to build air-tight cases. "
“A treasure trove of rich evidence was created and released by the insurgents themselves,” Adam Wandt, deputy chair for academic technology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, told The Hill.
"Social media sites were flooded with images and video clips of the mob that stormed the Capitol. On the day, Tweets and Facebook posts appeared to show rioters flagrantly breaking laws — carrying firearms into the Capitol, breaking into lawmakers’ offices, and in one case stealing Speaker Nancy Pelosis’s (D-Calif.) lectern. "
"And despite coronavirus restrictions in place requiring face coverings, the crowd was largely maskless which will help law enforcement agencies using facial recognition technology."
“We normally don't see in the modern day world — with video cameras and security cameras everywhere — we normally don't see people who are committing multiple felonies at once so willing to show their face,” Wandt said. “For some reason the insurgents at the Capitol felt very comfortable, and almost justified in their actions, in that they advertised freely who they were,” he added.
"In addition to the photos flooding social media platforms, many sites had posts ahead of the riot where participants mused about a potentially violent event and organized the storming of the Capitol. “Perry Mason would be jealous of the amount of digital evidence that is present in this case,” West said. “People have left posts all over social media and through emails and texts messages, so prosecutors are going to have a field day.”
“I think the suspects don't realize the amount of information that is out there, because with geolocation devices, you can pinpoint location,” West said. “A lot of the things they are doing are time stamped down to the minute and second, so law enforcement is going to know what they were doing, where they were doing it and when they were doing it.”
