Beyond the Digital Surface: Understanding Online Information in Professional Investigations
A digital footprint consists of the information individuals leave behind through their online activity. These digital traces can be substantial and informative and for professionals working in legal, insolvency or investigative fields, understanding what information is accessible online is crucial, as is recognising its limitations. At Satori Intelligence, we help clients navigate this terrain.
Understanding an Online Digital Footprint
Digital information generally falls into two categories:
Information deliberately shared online includes social media posts, comments, and personal websites.
Information collected passively includes data gathered through cookies, aggregator websites, browsing histories, and tracking technologies.
Together, these elements can create a detailed picture of an individual's online presence and digital footprint.
Publicly Available Information
There is a wide range of information that is legally and ethically accessible through open sources. This type of research is often referred to as open-source intelligence, and can include:
Social media accounts - posts, photographs and connections.
News and media coverage - mentions in articles, interviews and press releases.
Corporate records - Sites similar to Companies House showing directorships, shareholdings and filings.
Domain and website information - historical domain ownership information and cached websites.
Electoral roll data - the publicly available edited version.
Court and regulatory information - published judgements and regulatory decisions.
Online commercial activity - reviews, listings and public transactions.
Professional information - LinkedIn profiles, industry listings and organisational websites.
Leaked data - published leaks containing contact details, shareholder information and corporate appointments.
Transportation tracking - plots the location of large vessels, such as aircraft and vessels.
Hobbies and interests - accounts to include gambling, race horse ownership, gaming sites etc.
Property data - house price information, rental and purchase listings, planning applications etc.
While these sources are publicly available, effective research requires knowing where to look, how to interpret what is found, and recognising meaningful patterns across different sources of information.
Information Not Publicly Available
Despite common misconceptions, there are clear legal and ethical boundaries governing information access. Private communications, emails, messages and deleted content are protected unless obtained through proper legal channels. Vehicle ownership, bank statements, phone records and precise location data typically require court orders, involvement from law enforcement or other routes.
Information behind paywalls, password protection or within private online groups cannot be accessed without proper authorisation.
The Satori Intelligence Approach
When public information reaches its limits, Satori Intelligence employs additional methods to develop a more complete picture. There is a whole world of data available that is legally obtainable, but requires access and specialised research methods to obtain it:
Subscription services - professional databases that compile information from numerous sources not found through general search engines.
Comprehensive official records - full access to records beyond what is freely available online.
Professional contacts - information carefully gathered from industry sources and professional networks both in the UK and overseas.
Onsite research - where necessary, in-person verification and investigation.
Physical document services - obtaining and reviewing paper records not available digitally.
Analytical expertise - connecting separate pieces of information to identify relationships and patterns.
Specialist data - if compliance requirements are met, information on bank accounts, mortgages, loans, car hire-purchase agreements, utilities etc can be identified. Specialist data can also include cryptocurrency analysis and connections mapping.
These approaches often reveal significant information that would remain undiscovered by relying solely on public online sources.
The Importance of Context
Information only becomes valuable when properly understood. Individual posts or records can be misleading when viewed in isolation. At Satori Intelligence, we aim to ensure that findings are verified and placed within the wider context of an investigation.
For instance, an online photograph might show someone at a particular location, but understanding why they were there and how it relates to other evidence requires professional assessment and contextual understanding.
Balancing Digital and Traditional Methods
Online information provides valuable leads, connections and insights that can help identify patterns, relationships and verify claims. However, it forms just one part of a thorough investigation.
At Satori Intelligence, our work typically begins with online research but extends to include rigorous verification, documentary evidence, specialised database research and human intelligence where appropriate. This comprehensive approach ensures accuracy and reliability.
For legal professionals, insolvency practitioners and business decision-makers who rely on accurate information, understanding the scope and limits of online research is essential. Whilst digital information offers important insights, it should be evaluated carefully and supplemented with more advanced investigative techniques when needed.
If you need help with researching a particular individual or company, Satori Intelligence can provide the balanced, thorough approach required for reliable results.
Published on 28 April 2025