OSINT Tools
Leverage open source intelligence capabilities including public records search, social media analysis, geographic analysis, and ethical investigation guidelines.
OSINT Tools#
FrameCounsel includes a suite of open source intelligence (OSINT) tools designed to supplement video evidence with publicly available information. These tools help defense teams build a complete picture of an incident, verify witness identities, and locate additional evidence.
Ethical Use Required
OSINT capabilities must be used in compliance with all applicable laws and ethical rules governing attorney conduct in your jurisdiction. FrameCounsel's OSINT tools access only publicly available information, but the aggregation of public data can raise privacy concerns. Always consult your jurisdiction's rules of professional conduct before using OSINT findings in legal proceedings.
Public Records Search#
The Public Records module provides structured access to freely available government databases and records. From within FrameCounsel, you can query:
- Court records - Prior cases, dispositions, and filings through PACER-compatible interfaces
- Property records - Ownership, liens, and property history for locations relevant to your case
- Business registrations - Corporate filings, officer listings, and registered agents
- Licensing databases - Professional licenses, vehicle registrations (where publicly accessible), and permits
Results are cached locally within your case project. Press to open the Records Search panel.
No Data Harvesting
FrameCounsel queries public databases on demand and stores results only in your local case project. No search queries or results are transmitted to FrameCounsel servers. Your investigation patterns remain private.
Social Media Analysis#
When social media content is relevant to a case, FrameCounsel helps you collect and preserve it with evidentiary integrity:
- Profile lookup - Search for public profiles by name, username, or known identifiers
- Content archival - Capture public posts, images, and videos with authenticated timestamps
- Hash verification - Each captured item receives a SHA-256 hash at collection time
- Metadata extraction - Extract EXIF data, geolocation tags, and posting timestamps from collected media
All social media collection is limited to publicly accessible content. FrameCounsel does not bypass any access controls or platform restrictions.
Geographic Analysis#
The Geographic Analysis module helps establish spatial context for your case:
- Location mapping - Plot incident locations, camera positions, and witness vantage points on a map
- Distance calculation - Measure distances between key locations with satellite imagery
- Street view integration - View the scene from publicly available street-level imagery
- Route analysis - Calculate travel times and routes relevant to timeline disputes
Geographic data can be exported as annotated maps for inclusion in court presentations.
Ethical Guidelines#
FrameCounsel includes built-in guardrails for responsible OSINT use:
- Scope logging - Every OSINT query is logged in the case audit trail with the user, timestamp, and parameters
- Purpose documentation - Each search requires a brief purpose note linking it to a specific defense need
- Result review - OSINT findings are flagged for attorney review before they can be included in reports
- Deletion controls - OSINT data can be purged from a case without affecting other evidence
These controls help firms demonstrate that their investigative activities were conducted responsibly and in compliance with ethical obligations.
Next Steps#
Ensure your case meets disclosure requirements with the Brady/Giglio compliance tools.