Digital evidence · methods compared
Five ways to prove what was online. Only some survive a dispute.
You need to show what a web page, a social media post, a chat or an email said at a given moment. Here is what each common method actually records, what it costs, and what happens when the other side says “that’s fake”.
- 01
Capture it
Save a webpage, record a browser session, or certify a file.
- 02
Seal it
A cryptographic seal and timestamp help reveal later changes.
- 03
Verify it
Anyone can check the evidence package independently.
| Method | Who captures it | What is recorded | Timestamp | Can the other side verify it? | Typical cost | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screenshot or screen recording you make yourself | You, on your own device | An image of your screen. Nothing shows the website ever sent it. | None that counts: file dates are editable | No. It is your word; a developer-tools edit or a rebuilt page looks identical. | Free | Seconds |
| Public web archive (Wayback Machine, archive.today) | A third party’s crawler, public pages only | A copy of the page as the crawler saw it. No logins, no chats, no e-mail; dynamic pages often break. | The archive’s own date, not a qualified timestamp | Partly: anyone can open the link, but archives are incomplete and pages can be removed on request. | Free | Minutes, if the page is archivable |
| Timestamping a file you made (free TSA, notary app) | You make the file; a service dates it | That this exact file existed from that moment on. Not where its content came from. | Often RFC 3161, qualified or not | Yes for the date and integrity of the file; no for the origin of what it shows. | Free to a few euros | Minutes |
| Bailiff, huissier or notary report | A public officer, in person | What the officer saw, described in an official report, sometimes with screenshots or a recording. | The report’s official date | Yes. Strong presumption; the officer can be heard. | €300–700 for online content | Days to weeks |
| Independent capture (instantproof) | instantproof’s own isolated browser on its servers | The page, session video, encrypted network traffic (TLS), e-mail or file as the real server delivered it, with SHA-256 hashes. | Qualified eIDAS timestamp and qualified electronic seal | Yes. Anyone can verify the package offline, including a bailiff or court expert, without contacting instantproof. | €0.95 per page, about €10 per recorded session, €1 per file; €10 welcome credit on sign-up (launch offer) | Minutes |
Prices are indicative and for online content; bailiff fees vary by country and task. A bailiff’s report remains a strong instrument, and an independent capture can later be authenticated by one, so the two are not opposites.
Other online certification services exist. Ask each one the same five questions.
Several providers in Europe offer web, file or WhatsApp certification. The names matter less than the answers to these questions, which is also how we would want to be judged.
Who runs the browser?
If the capture happens on your device, it is only as trustworthy as your device. An independent, isolated browser on the provider’s servers removes you from the chain.
Is the network traffic recorded?
A screenshot made by a server is still just a screenshot. Recording the encrypted traffic shows which server sent the content, over TLS, at that moment.
Qualified or ordinary timestamp?
Under the eIDAS Regulation (Article 41) only a qualified timestamp enjoys the presumption of accuracy of date and integrity of data. Ask which trust service provider issues it.
Can a third party verify it without the provider?
A court expert should be able to check signatures, timestamps and hashes offline. If verification needs the provider’s website or goodwill, the evidence depends on the provider staying in business.
Do you get the whole package?
Video, network log, hashes, certificate and the verification guide should be yours to download and hand to a lawyer, not a link that can expire.
Frequently asked questions
Which method should a private individual use for a dispute with a landlord, seller or ex-partner?
For messages and pages that are still online: an independent recorded session, so the content is captured live from the real server with the sender’s identity on screen. For photos and documents you made yourself: certify the file. Keep the screenshot too; it illustrates, the capture proves.
Is the Wayback Machine accepted in court?
Archive captures have been accepted in several countries, usually with an affidavit from the archive or an expert. They only cover public pages, often miss dynamic content, and cannot capture logged-in content such as chats or marketplaces. For a dispute that matters, treat the archive as supporting material, not the main proof.
Can I still get a bailiff later if I start with instantproof?
Yes. The package is designed to be verified by anyone, including a bailiff or court-appointed expert. Capturing now costs little and preserves content that may be deleted tomorrow; a formal report can be added if a procedure requires it.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. Every new account receives €10 of welcome credit when the email address is confirmed: enough for one recorded session, about ten web page captures, or ten file certificates. No card is needed. This is part of our launch and may be withdrawn at any time; accounts that already received it keep it.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page compares technical methods for information. Admissibility and weight are always for the court in the specific case. Ask a lawyer about your own situation.
Capture what matters. Before it changes.
Start with €10 welcome credit. Keep a cryptographically sealed evidence package you can download and verify.