30. Websites, Social Posts, Recordings, and Software

30.1 Capture an identifiable publication

For a web page, retain author or responsible organization, page title, publication or update date if stated, URL, and access date when useful. Do not infer a publication date from the copyright footer. Prefer the specific document URL over a search-results page or generic homepage.

If the page changes, preserve a lawful snapshot or archive link where appropriate. Record whether the archive actually captured the relevant text, images, and attachments. An archived shell that omits the document is not a preserved source.

30.2 Identify social posts individually

Preserve display name, account identifier, post date and time where material, stable post URL or identifier, and the relevant content. Distinguish the account's claim of identity from independently established authorship. A screenshot may preserve appearance but omit context, edits, replies, or linked material. Record what it captures and what it does not.

Avoid unnecessarily reproducing personal information in public work. Citation precision and privacy can coexist: retain sensitive provenance in the authorized research file while following applicable redaction and filing requirements.

30.3 Use recording-specific timestamps

Identify the exact recording, its date, publisher or custodian, version, and timestamp range. A shortened clip and the full recording can assign different times to the same words. State which version the locator refers to. If a transcript supplies the quotation, verify it against the recording when accuracy matters and identify meaningful uncertainty.

For a court recording, follow the receiving rules for record designation and availability. An independently hosted clip should not silently replace the official record.

30.4 Cite software as a research object

When software is itself the subject, record its name, author or organization, version or commit, relevant module or documentation, and repository or release URL. When software performs a calculation, retain the inputs, settings, and output separately. The software citation identifies the tool; it does not establish that the analysis was configured correctly.

30.5 Treat generated answers as leads

An AI-generated answer can suggest terms, sources, or an analytical structure, but it is not a substitute for the authority supporting a legal proposition. Open each source and verify identity, passage, status, and receiving requirements. If the generated output itself is evidence or the subject of study, preserve the prompt, model/version information available, date, output, and material settings. Do not present generated quotations or citations as verified merely because they have convincing typography.