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Document only when doing so is reasonably safe. Before collecting or sharing anything, consider the risks to you and to everyone who could be identified, decide what the record is for, and choose a method that preserves context without needlessly exposing people. Keep observations, other people’s accounts, and your conclusions distinct. No documentation method guarantees safety, confidentiality, legal protection, or court admissibility.
Before you document, assess the risk and purpose
The Berkeley Protocol on Digital Open Source Investigations, published jointly by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Human Rights Center at UC Berkeley in 2020, treats safety as part of investigation planning—not an afterthought. It covers risks to investigators and to people who provide information or appear in material.
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Decide whether documenting is worth the risk
Ask what the record may be used for: a private account, reporting to a trusted organization, journalism, or a formal accountability process. Consider whether collecting, storing, or forwarding it could expose you, a witness, a survivor, or another person to retaliation or other harm. If there is immediate danger, prioritize getting to safety and seek trusted local specialist assistance only if doing so is safe.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Do not enter a dangerous site, confront an alleged perpetrator, or take a recording simply because evidence might be useful later. The right reporting authority, safe channel, and legal rules depend on location, circumstances, and your role; there is no universally safe recipient.
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Limit what you collect and who can see it
Collect only what serves the stated purpose. A name, face, voice, location, uniform, vehicle, or detail in the background may identify someone even if the caption does not. Consider the risks before photographing, recording, forwarding, or publishing such material. Consent matters, but it does not remove every risk; do not promise that a source will remain anonymous or that information will stay confidential.
Make a careful record without blurring fact and inference
Use consistent methods and record how information was found and handled. The Berkeley Protocol is a framework for gathering, analysing, preserving, and verifying digital information; it is not a single device setting or universal checklist. Adapt your approach to the evidence, threat conditions, and intended process.
Separate what you saw from what you were told
In your notes, label each point as a direct observation, a statement reported by another person, or an inference. Record who supplied an account and when, if it is safe and appropriate to do so. Attribute claims rather than writing them as established facts. If something is uncertain, say what is uncertain instead of filling gaps with a guess.
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Keep context with the material
For digital material, note where it came from and how you encountered it. Where available and safe to retain, record the original page or account, the date and time you accessed it, and the relevant surrounding context. For a witness account, note when and how it was provided and whether it was recorded or written down. A brief description without context can be difficult to assess later.
Do not edit an original merely to make it clearer. If you need to redact identifying details for a working copy, retain the unaltered original only if it is safe and lawful to do so, and clearly label the redacted version. Do not casually collect, copy, or redistribute intimate or highly sensitive images.
Verify digital material before drawing conclusions
Online content may be false, misleading, taken out of context, or manipulated. The Berkeley Protocol treats verification as a methodical task. A screenshot alone does not prove that an image or post is authentic, when it was created, where it was made, or what it depicts.
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Check source, time, place, and context
- Source: Identify where the item appeared and whether you can trace it to an original poster, account, or publication.
- Time: Distinguish the time something was posted or captured from the time the depicted event is alleged to have happened. Record time-zone uncertainty when relevant.
- Place: Treat a location claim as unverified until supported by reliable evidence; do not infer it from a caption alone.
- Context: Look for surrounding material and credible corroboration where possible. A clip or image may omit information that changes its meaning.
Record what supports a conclusion and what remains unresolved. Do not describe an allegation as a verified finding just because several posts repeat it; they may all derive from the same unverified source.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesPreserve evidence and document its handling
Preserve material in a way that avoids unnecessary alteration and retains the context needed for later assessment. Keep a handling record: what was collected, from where, by whom, when, and what happened to it afterward. If another person receives or transfers the material, record that handoff when it is safe to do so.
Keep originals distinct from working copies
Where safe and lawful, retain an unaltered original and make a separate working copy for notes, redactions, or analysis. Label copies so they cannot be mistaken for originals, and record any changes made to a copy. Protect access to both: the original may contain identifying details that make broad sharing dangerous.
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- IRIScan Express mobile scanner is powered via an included micro USB 2. 0 cable allowing you to use it even where there is no outlet available. Plug it into you PC or laptop and you are ready to scan. USB cable provided. AC Adapter not provided and not needed.
- IRIScan flatbed scanner uses a simplex scanning mode allows for quick and straightforward scanning of single-sided documents. IRIScan with its full portable features is the ideal document scanners for computers.
- IRIScan document scanner : Versatile scanning capabilities, including scanning to Word, PDF, and Excel formats with companion software provided Readiris OCR
- Receipt scanner and card scanner with Additional features include scanning business cards directly to Outlook, photo scanning, and receipt scanning for efficient document management
For physical items or sensitive records, avoid handling or moving them unnecessarily. Document what you did and seek advice from a qualified specialist if preserving the material could affect safety or a formal investigation. Chain-of-custody requirements and technical procedures vary with the evidence and the process. No consumer workflow, screenshot, or handling log by itself guarantees admissibility.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Protect people and the documenter
Before sharing, assess whether names, faces, voices, locations, account details, or other clues could expose someone. Consider the risks of forwarding material as well as publishing it; a private recipient may not be able to keep it secure. Share the minimum necessary with an appropriate recipient, using a channel judged safe for the situation. Do not assume a platform or communication method is secure.
Documentation can also take a psychological toll. The Berkeley Protocol addresses physical, digital, and psychosocial safety, and UC Berkeley’s Human Rights Center identifies resilience to secondary trauma as an essential part of investigative work. Set limits on exposure to distressing material and seek appropriate support when needed.
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When torture or ill-treatment is alleged
The 2022 revised Istanbul Protocol is the UN’s specialized manual for the effective investigation and documentation of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. It addresses documentary evidence, photography, digital authenticity, and evidence handling. This work may require qualified medical and legal practitioners.
A layperson should not try to make a clinical or legal determination from a photograph or checklist, conduct an invasive interview, examine injuries, or collect sensitive material without appropriate training and consent. If such documentation may be needed, seek established procedures and qualified specialist support where it is safe to do so.
Which protocol should you use?
The Berkeley and Istanbul Protocols address related but distinct needs; they are not competing products.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →| Resource | Best fit | What it addresses | Practitioner considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley Protocol on Digital Open Source Investigations (2020) | Investigating alleged violations using digital, publicly available information | Gathering, analysis, verification, preservation, and investigator and source safety | A cross-cutting framework for investigative work; the appropriate methods depend on context and intended process. |
| Istanbul Protocol, revised edition (2022) | Allegations of torture or other ill-treatment | Investigation and documentation, including documentary evidence, photography, digital authenticity, and handling | Work may require qualified medical and legal expertise and established procedures. |
OHCHR’s 2023 Publications and E-products Catalogue lists print and electronic formats for the Berkeley Protocol. A copy of either protocol is a reference, not a substitute for training, specialist advice, or a safe plan.
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