PROJECT: THE CRIMINAL USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA - WHEN THE PUBLIC BECOMES THE INVESTIGATOR
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DO NOT BECOME AN INVESTIGATOR ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media has become an important source of information during criminal investigations.
Photographs, videos, eyewitness accounts and other information can reach thousands of people within minutes.
Used responsibly, this can assist law enforcement and help locate missing persons or identify witnesses.
The problem begins when members of the public move from reporting information to conducting their own investigation.
Identifying supposed suspects, publishing addresses, tracking vehicles, conducting amateur surveillance,
confronting people and circulating unverified information can interfere with an investigation,
expose innocent people to danger and create new victims.
WHEN A SOCIAL-MEDIA POST BECOMES A CRIMINAL RISK:
A person who sees a photograph or video online may believe that they have identified a suspect.
They may then publish the person's name, photograph, workplace, home address, vehicle registration or other identifying information.
That conclusion may be completely wrong.
A person can resemble a suspect, own a similar vehicle or have been in the same area without having committed any offence.
Once an identity has been published online, thousands of people may repeat it before investigators have established the facts.
South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) recognises information such as physical addresses, location information,
telephone numbers, online identifiers and other information relating to identifiable individuals as personal information.
The circumstances in which information may lawfully be collected, used or disclosed therefore matter.
The public should not assume that information found online is automatically lawful to publish simply because it is accessible.
DO NOT PUBLISH ADDRESSES OR VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBERS:
Publishing a person's home address can expose them and their family to harassment, intimidation, retaliation or vigilante action.
The same applies to vehicle registration numbers when they are used to identify or locate a person.
A vehicle may be registered to one person while being driven by another.
A registration number, therefore, does not, by itself, establish who was involved in an offence.
Social media users should provide relevant information to investigators rather than turning identifying information into a public targeting tool.
DO NOT CONDUCT AMATEUR SURVEILLANCE:
Following a suspected vehicle, monitoring a person's movements, photographing their home, tracking their location or organising groups of people to watch a suspected individual can create serious risks.
Members of the public do not know what investigators know.
They may also be unaware that a person is a witness, victim, informant, family member or completely uninvolved third party.
More importantly, confronting or following a person believed to be a suspect can escalate into violence.
If information about a suspected offender exists, the correct response is to preserve the information and provide it to law enforcement.
SAPS specifically directs members of the public to report crimes through the appropriate channels rather than relying on social-media platforms as an emergency reporting mechanism. SAPS identifies 10111 for emergencies and Crime Stop 08600 10111 for information about criminal activity.
MISSING PERSONS: VERIFY BEFORE YOU SHARE:
Missing-person information can save lives, but incorrect information can also cause substantial harm.
A photograph or message stating that someone has disappeared may be old, incorrectly captioned, duplicated from another case or completely fabricated.
SAPS states that there is no waiting period for reporting a missing person.
A missing person should be reported immediately at the nearest police station, with relevant information and a recent photograph where possible.
SAPS also requires the completion of the appropriate documentation before it distributes a missing person's photograph and information.
This is an important distinction.
Report first. Verify second. Share responsibly.
Do not turn an unverified WhatsApp message into a nationwide search operation.
SAPS has repeatedly warned about fabricated missing-person and child-abduction messages circulating online.
In September 2026, SAPS again warned that unverified fabricated alerts can cause public panic, consume law-enforcement resources and distract from genuine emergencies.
CRIME-SCENE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE NOT SOCIAL-MEDIA CONTENT:
Photographs and videos from crime scenes may contain information that investigators need to examine properly.
Publishing them prematurely can expose victims and their families to unnecessary trauma.
It can also reveal sensitive information about the scene, witnesses, evidence or investigative methods.
A crime scene should be treated like a sealed evidence file, not a public noticeboard.
Do not enter restricted areas to obtain photographs. Do not move objects to obtain a better photograph.
Do not touch, collect or remove potential evidence.
The public's responsibility is to preserve information for investigators, not to create a second investigation around the original crime.
DO NOT CONFRONT PEOPLE IDENTIFIED ONLINE:
One of the most dangerous consequences of social-media investigations is vigilantism.
Once a name, photograph, address or vehicle has been circulated, people may decide that they have identified the person responsible and attempt to confront them.
That can result in intimidation, assault, property damage or even death.
It can also destroy the possibility of obtaining reliable evidence and create additional criminal cases.
A social-media accusation is not a warrant, not an arrest and not a conviction.
Only the proper criminal-justice process can determine whether a person should be prosecuted and ultimately held criminally responsible.
MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION CAN CHANGE AN INVESTIGATION:
Not every false social-media post is created deliberately.
Misinformation is false or inaccurate information shared without necessarily intending to deceive.
Disinformation involves false information deliberately created or distributed to mislead people.
During an active criminal investigation, both can be dangerous.
A false claim can send members of the public to the wrong location.
A fabricated suspect identification can place an innocent person in danger. A false missing-person alert can divert police resources. A manipulated photograph can create a completely false narrative.
SAPS has previously warned that even sharing false information can have consequences.
In a 2018 warning, the service stated that a person does not necessarily escape liability simply because they were not the original creator of a false communication; sharing or repeating information can also create legal consequences depending on the circumstances.
The Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020 also specifically regulates harmful data messages and creates offences relating to certain cyber-related conduct.
The legal consequences of an online communication, therefore, depend on what was communicated, how it was distributed and the circumstances in which it occurred.
SOCIAL MEDIA CAN HELP INVESTIGATORS — IF USED CORRECTLY:
The answer is not to stop the public from sharing information.
Responsible members of the public can provide investigators with valuable evidence.
Save the original photograph, video, message, location, date and time.
Do not edit the material unnecessarily.
Do not add speculation.
Do not identify a suspect yourself.
Do not publish a person's private information.
Do not confront anyone.
Instead, provide the information to the investigating officer or the appropriate law-enforcement channel.
SAPS provides Crime Stop for information concerning criminals and criminal activity and also provides anonymous tip-off functionality through the MySAPS system.
THE SSS WARNING:
SSS urges members of the public to understand the difference
between being a witness and becoming an investigator.
If you have information, report it.
If you have evidence, preserve it.
If you have footage, provide the original material to investigators.
If you recognise a person or vehicle, do not assume that recognition proves criminal involvement.
If a person is missing, verify the information through the proper channels.
If you see a suspicious post, do not automatically share it.
And if you believe a crime is in progress or someone is in immediate danger,
contact the appropriate emergency service rather than attempting to intervene personally.
The internet does not turn an ordinary citizen into a detective.
A criminal investigation requires evidence, corroboration, lawful procedures and proper investigative judgment.
Social media can support that process, but when the public starts naming suspects, tracking people,
publishing private information and confronting individuals, the investigation can become part of the problem.
SSS advises the public to report information, preserve evidence and allow trained investigators
and law-enforcement authorities to establish the facts.
Where a matter requires specialist investigation, members of the public can approach
Mr. Mike Bolhuis and the SSS Specialist Investigators for professional assistance.
Specialised Security Services invites the public to the Mike Bolhuis Daily Projects WhatsApp Channel.
This channel is important in delivering insights into the latest crime trends, awareness, warnings and the exposure of criminals.
How to Join the WhatsApp Channel:
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Regards,
Mike Bolhuis
Specialist Investigators into
Serious Violent, Serious Economic Crimes & Serious Cybercrimes
PSIRA Reg. 1590364/421949
Mobile: +27 82 447 6116
E-mail: mike@mikebolhuis.co.za
Fax: 086 585 4924
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EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: All potential clients need to be aware that owing to the nature of our work as specialist investigators there are people who have been caught on the wrong side of the law - who are trying to discredit me - Mike Bolhuis and my organisation Specialised Security Services - to get themselves off the hook. This retaliation happens on social media and creates doubt about our integrity and ability. Doubt created on social media platforms is both unwarranted and untrue. We strongly recommend that you make up your minds concerning me and our organisation only after considering all the factual information - to the exclusion of hearsay and assumptions. Furthermore, you are welcome to address your concerns directly with me should you still be unsatisfied with your conclusions. While the internet provides a lot of valuable information, it is also a platform that distributes a lot of false information. The distribution of false information, fake news, slander and hate speech constitutes a crime that can be prosecuted by law. Your own research discretion and discernment are imperative when choosing what and what not to believe.
STANDARD RULES APPLY: Upon appointment, we require a formal mandate with detailed instructions. Please take note that should you not make use of our services – you may not under any circumstance use my name or the name of my organisation as a means to achieve whatever end.
POPI ACT 4 of 2013 South Africa: Mike Bolhuis' "Specialised Security Services" falls under Section 6 of the act. Read more here: https://mikebh.link/fntdpv
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