Content Assessment: Short and Sweet? EDRM Releases Short Message Metadata Primer to Address eDiscovery Challenges

Information - 93%
Insight - 94%
Relevance - 93%
Objectivity - 94%
Authority - 95%

94%

Excellent

A short percentage-based assessment of the qualitative benefit of the recent announcement of the release of its Short Message Metadata Primer for public comment.

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Background Note: The Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM) has released the Short Message Metadata Primer, a valuable resource for cybersecurity, information governance, and eDiscovery professionals. This primer focuses on addressing the unique challenges presented by short message communications, such as text messaging and instant messaging, in the field of eDiscovery. It provides comprehensive insights into metadata properties across popular short message applications, aiming to promote clarity, uniformity, and better understanding for legal practitioners and their clients.

The primer is a collaborative effort led by the EDRM Short Message Metadata Primer Project Team, composed of eDiscovery professionals from various backgrounds. The publication is a work-in-progress aiming to address the rapidly changing landscape of text and instant messaging platforms. Periodic updates are anticipated to reflect industry feedback and changes in the market. The public comment period is open until August 1, 2023, allowing stakeholders to provide input and suggestions.

Press Announcement Summary

EDRM Releases Short Message Metadata Primer to Address eDiscovery Challenges

ComplexDiscovery Staff

The Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM) has made a significant stride in the field of eDiscovery with the release of its Short Message Metadata Primer. Aimed at cybersecurity, information governance, and eDiscovery professionals, the primer addresses the challenges posed by short message communications in legal proceedings, such as text messaging and instant messaging.

Short Message Communications, including text and instant messaging, have emerged as the dominant forms of communication, with mobile devices being the primary source for data collection in a large majority of service providers (89%) and corporations (91%). However, the collection, review, and production of short messages have proven to be complex tasks due to variations in metadata across different applications. This new primer by EDRM offers comprehensive insights into metadata properties, facilitating better understanding and promoting clarity and uniformity among legal practitioners and their clients.

Led by Monica Harris and Matthew Rasmussen, the EDRM Short Message Metadata Primer Project Team worked diligently to identify and define the various metadata fields extracted from leading text and instant messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Slack, and Teams. By providing guidance on requesting, collecting, reviewing, and organizing short message evidence accurately, the primer equips eDiscovery professionals with vital knowledge to navigate the evolving landscape of modern communication platforms effectively.

“eDiscovery experts are increasingly finding themselves on the front lines of the modern data battlefield, combatting the complex landscape of today’s communication platforms. With the ubiquitous nature of short messages, and their ever-growing significance in legal and investigative contexts, our understanding of the metadata properties and the precision with which we preserve, collect, process, and interpret metadata can be the key determinant in the unfolding of a matter or a case,” said Monica Harris, co-Trustee. “The EDRM Short Message Metadata Primer Project aims to level the playing field, arming eDiscovery professionals with vital knowledge to engage and maneuver confidently in this new modern data terrain. As we move forward, embracing the evolution of our digital world and adapting our methodologies and strategies accordingly will be paramount to the success of our industry.”

Co-Trustee Matt Rasmussen added, “I’m extremely excited for our Public Comment Round on the EDRM Short Message Metadata Primer Project! Everyone in the industry would agree that Legal Hold, Investigation, and Compliance requests involving smartphone communications data are a difficult challenge from every angle. We really hope that this Project serves as a valuable source of education and knowledge enabling you and your teams to identify, document, and solve your short-message challenges! It’s not as difficult as it seems!”

“This primer summarizes the presence (or absence) of 40+ metadata fields across ios and android text messaging, Teams, Slack and What’s App. It is rare to find so much useful information so concisely presented– this primer will be an invaluable reference guide for all of us involved in analysis, classification and production of short messages, whether for e-discovery or other purposes,” commented David R. Cohen, Reed Smith partner and Chair of the EDRM Project Trustees.

The EDRM Short Message Metadata Primer is a work-in-progress, acknowledging the fluidity of the text and instant messaging market. To ensure the primer remains up-to-date, EDRM anticipates periodic updates based on industry feedback. Stakeholders are invited to contribute their comments and suggestions during the public comment period, which concludes on August 1, 2023. This collaborative effort aims to level the playing field, empower professionals, and improve the practice of data and legal discovery in today’s digital world.

With the release of this primer, EDRM continues its mission of creating practical resources to enhance e-discovery, privacy, security, and information governance. Professionals can leverage the insights provided by the Short Message Metadata Primer to confidently navigate the complexities of short message communications and contribute to the development of industry standards and best practices.

About EDRM

Empowering the global leaders of e-discovery, the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM) creates practical resources to improve e-discovery, privacy, security and information governance. Since 2005, EDRM has delivered leadership, standards, tools and guides to improve best practices throughout the world. EDRM has an international presence in 145 countries spanning six continents and growing has an innovative support infrastructure for individuals, law firms, corporations and government organizations seeking to improve the practice and provision of data and legal discovery. Learn more about the EDRM today at EDRM.net. Contact info@edrm.net for more information on how to get involved in our global project community.

Read the complete release at EDRM Releases New Resource “EDRM Short Message Metadata Primer 1.0.”


Complete Public Comment Version: EDRM Short Message Metadata Primer 1.0 (PDF) – Mouseover to Scroll

EDRM 2023 – Short Message Metadata Primer – Public Comment Version

Read the original version.


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Source: ComplexDiscovery

 

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