Lawyers have issued a stark warning to anyone who uses social media in the wake of the high profile "Wagatha Christie" trial.
It comes after Channel 4 announced a new drama based on the court case earlier this week. BAFTA-winning actress and This Is England star Chanel Cresswell is set to take on the role of Coleen Rooney with Game Of Thrones star Natalia Tena playing opposite her as fellow WAG, Rebekah Vardy.
Amid the news of the "high-stakes" drama, legal experts at BPP University Law School have issued a warning to social media users, to be careful about what they post online and how updates and messages could be used as evidence.
READ MORE: Channel 4 announces casting for Coleen Rooney's Wagatha Christie film
As seen in the Wagatha trial, social media can harm the defence in a court case. Here are four points you should consider when posting on Facebook, Instagram and other apps.
It can be used to explain your mental state
When facing criminal charges the way you express your emotions online can end up being used against you to explain an unstable mental state or anger if you’re facing violence charges. It is therefore always best to avoid online platforms when you are in emotional distress.
"Private" messages aren't actually private
A lot of social media platforms allow users to send messages to each other privately through a direct message feature. However, it is important that you think about the messages you are sending, as they are not as private as you might think.
The person who is prosecuting almost always has access to private messages, with permission, that are sent on social media platforms and can be used as evidence to help convict a defendant or give legal rights to one party over another.
Location settings can pinpoint where you were
Social media platforms allow users to pin their location when posting or to “check in” to venues that let their followers know where they are. While a lot of people voluntarily use this feature you don’t always have to include your location when posting.
However, what people may not know is that even if you do not voluntarily include your location when posting, some social media platforms still track it anyway. Those who are attempting to prosecute a person may be able to obtain this data and use it against them as a result.
Trying to delete messages may make you look guilty
If a person is facing charges in a court of law they may be worried about posts that they have made in the past that could be used against them and may attempt to delete them. However, once something is posted online, it can quite often be found by law enforcement even after it has been deleted.
Not only that, but proof that you attempted to delete social media posts could look like you were destroying evidence and may hurt your case further.
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