Evaluating digital open source imagery: A guide for judges and fact-finders

Developed collaboratively by leading academic institutions, human rights organizations, and digital evidence experts — including Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), Swansea University’s TRUE Project, Mnemonic, Human Rights Center UC Berkeley, Open Society Foundations – Justice Initiative, University of Essex Human Rights Centre, Hertie School’s Centre for Fundamental Rights, Bonavero Institute of Human Rights, and WITNESS — this guide offers a practical roadmap for evaluating the credibility and reliability of digital open source imagery.

Aimed at judges and other decision-makers, the guide demystifies common open source investigation techniques (OSINT) such as content verification, metadata analysis, and source credibility assessment. It addresses the growing use of digital open-source information — content publicly available online, as evidence in domestic and international courts, human rights investigations, and fact-finding missions.

Structured around key evaluative issues, the guide helps users determine image authenticity and analyze vital metadata, source, time, and location data. With global launch events and information sessions planned, it is a timely and essential resource in the digital age of justice.

Explore the guide: www.trueproject.co.uk/osguide

Also available in Arabic, Spanish, Ukrainian (direct download) & French (direct download).