Cops Can Use Fake Social Media Credentials To Gather Evidence

Watch out lawbreakers, that odd follower on your social media may be a police officer.

A New Jersey judge ruled that social media posts can be used in court, even when the police officer falsified their identity.  District Court Judge William Martini ruled in the case of Daniel Gatson, who was accused of running a lucrative jewelry theft ring. Gatson requested that evidence be suppressed, including cellphone location data, physical evidence, phone conversations – and Gatson’s Instagram account.

Police using fake social media credentials

Undercover police created a fake account and friended Gatson on Instagram without a warrant. The case follows a pattern of police using social media in their enforcement activities.