Case Type: Private investigation / defamation in a personal context

Client: Private investigator commissioned by a civil law firm

Parties Involved: Client A (defamed) vs. Client B (alleged defamer)

Mandate Assigned to H2E Firm:

Verify the authenticity of a series of screenshots of conversations used as evidence

Duration of Mandate: 5 business days

Context

A client was publicly accused on social media of having made offensive remarks via private messages.


Screenshots were submitted by the complainant and circulated by others on Facebook, causing significant reputational damage.

A private investigator, hired by the lawyer of the accused client, contacted H2E Firm to authenticate the screenshots and detect any potential falsification.

H2E Firm’s Intervention

Step 1

Analysis of Received Files

  • Secure reception of 6 PNG screenshots
  • Metadata analysis (EXIF, timestamps, device model)
  • Consistency checks on visual elements (interface, alignment, timestamps)
Step 2

Manipulation Detection

  • Error Level Analysis (ELA) to detect
altered areas
  • Comparison of fonts, spacing, CSS structures from the messaging platform
  • Reconstruction of a test message to verify original rendering
Step 3

Technical Illustrated Report Revealing

  • Typographic inconsistency on two words
  • Abnormal compression localized on altered text areas
  • Overlay of interface elements from different devices
  • Visual presentation: highlighting and zoom on suspect areas

Supported Hypothesis: Messages were locally edited before the screenshots were takent

Outcome

The H2E expert wrote a report that was submitted in a counterclaim for defamation.


The law firm demonstrated that the evidence used against their client had been altered and that the public accusations were defamatory.

The disputed content was removed from Facebook following a cease-and-desist letter.

Key Takeaways
  • A digital image used as evidence does not guarantee authenticity
  • Forensic tools can reveal modifications invisible to the naked eye
  • An illustrated, visually explicit report is more persuasive for both the judge and the public
Tools Used
  • FotoForensics (ELA)
  • ImageMagick + custom detection scripts
  • In-house UI comparison tools
  • PDF report + annotated graphic board

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