A screenshot can be genuine and still be misleading evidence

A screenshot can be 100% genuine and still be misleading evidence.

Imagine someone submits a screenshot of a WhatsApp conversation:

"I agree to pay ₹5 lakh."

The screenshot is authentic. Nothing has been edited.

But the preceding message, which isn't visible, says:

"Would you agree to pay ₹5 lakh if the work is completed?"

The meaning can change significantly depending on the surrounding conversation.

3 practical precautions when handling digital evidence

1. Preserve the complete conversation: Include relevant messages before and after the disputed statement.
2. Collect original data: Where possible, preserve chat exports and relevant metadata.
3. Corroborate the screenshot: Compare it with other records, timestamps and independent evidence.

The takeaway: Authenticity doesn't guarantee completeness or context.