Data is a crucial resource in law enforcement. In recent years, the rise of online life in general, and smartphones and social media specifically, has created both a challenge and an opportunity for law enforcement. On one hand, these new, rich data sources hold tremendous promise for investigations. On the other hand, long-standing law enforcement tools and databases struggle to manage this type of information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Newer, nimbler tools such as Spokeo for Law Enforcement provide police forces with powerful access to both open-source and regulated data. Now, with its most recent upgrades, Spokeo offers investigators time-saving batch search capability. Let\u2019s look at how that works and how it might play out in a handful of real-world use cases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Historically, LEAs and certain other classes of professionals, including private detectives and collections firms, have enjoyed access to data that\u2019s not available to the population at large. Over the past couple of decades, with the rise of the internet and the \u201cdata economy,\u201d that\u2019s been changing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, some police forces have simply purchased information from commercial data brokers that might previously have required a warrant. This has drawn attention from a number of rights organizations<\/a> and federal legislators<\/a>, who argue that the practice violates the Fourth Amendment, though it seems likely to continue until and unless it\u2019s definitively halted by the courts. In fact, people-search tools like Spokeo\u2019s own consumer product have given everyday Americans tools that in some limited ways rival those used by law enforcement.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The difference between Spokeo\u2019s consumer product and Spokeo for Law Enforcement<\/a>, which is marketed to law enforcement and other specific professional users, is that it brings together traditional regulated data with the broader, deeper public information available to modern consumer-data brokerages. That enables investigators to draw from both, in a single, easy-to-use interface (we refer to this as \u201cadvanced people search<\/a>\u201d). To be clear, Spokeo \u2014 like many competitive products \u2014 already had the capability of handling data in large batches. Those batch searches required the use of Spokeo\u2019s powerful application programming interface (API), which meant it was only available to agencies that had the IT resources (in-house, or on a contract basis) to do that kind of custom coding. It\u2019s very powerful and allows Spokeo to integrate with other data sources and analytics tools, but the need for computing resources limits the number of LEAs that can make use of it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Batch Append changes the math on that. Instead of requiring a team of techs, investigators themselves can simply use our secure upload process to send a batch of data (names, online usernames\/aliases, phone numbers, physical or email addresses) to Spokeo\u2019s servers. Our algorithms comb through the billions of pieces of data we have access to, matching them with the information you send.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The resulting report fleshes out and updates the data you send, filling in the blanks, identifying errors, and providing the fullest possible information on each person represented in your data. The results are available and ready to use almost immediately. It\u2019s much faster than running a large number of individual searches, which in turn frees up your investigators and staff to focus on higher-value work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Having provided some context for how batch searches work, let\u2019s take a look at some specific use cases for this feature in law enforcement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Having access to clean, up-to-date data at all times is fundamental to any investigation because it simplifies reaching or finding the people you need to be in touch with. Every outdated address or phone number represents wasted time for your investigators, and Spokeo\u2019s Batch Append makes it simple and straightforward (and cost-effective) to keep your data up to date. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Missing persons cases can become a significant time sink for LEAs. There are a lot of them: The FBI recorded over 560,000 missing-persons reports<\/a> in 2023 alone. At almost every level, the volume of missing-persons reports<\/a> can be difficult for teams to investigate, especially if the case has gone cold. Using a tool like Batch Append, however, can be a good way to whittle down your focus.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using Batch Append to collectively search every missing persons file in your jurisdiction (and surrounding jurisdictions that might have a bearing within your own) will uncover any of those \u201cmissing\u201d persons who have simply moved on and begun a new life somewhere else, without letting anyone know. It will also show anyone who\u2019s currently incarcerated, or whose death has been reported in another jurisdiction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Removing these groups of people from your active files by performing a batch search quarterly or monthly (depending on the volume of cases you experience) cuts down on the resources you\u2019ll need to allocate to missing persons files, and helps investigators remain focused only on those that should<\/em> actively be pursued. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Recent decades have provided several examples of cases involving hundreds of people of interest, including the 1999 World Trade Organization protests in Seattle and the 2011 Stanley Cup riot in Vancouver, Canada. In the latter case, for example, Canadian authorities spent almost three years and $5 million (CAD)<\/a> to investigate 366 suspected rioters, and ultimately brought charges against 300 of them.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your agency may never be faced with an investigation on that scale, but any criminal or terrorist event, or major disturbance of the peace, is likely to generate a large volume of tips. Collating the names and other information provided and then conducting a batch search through Spokeo can provide LEAs with a foundation to inform subsequent investigations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Like missing persons cases, individual searches are usually how you\u2019ll attempt to track down fugitives who have jumped bail, or otherwise evaded custody or arrest. Again, as with missing persons, making a habit of performing regular batch searches collectively on all of your fugitives can help to \u201cthin the herd.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Those who have been reported as deceased or incarcerated in another jurisdiction will show up in the search. Where appropriate, this presents the possibility of an extradition request to the other jurisdiction, so that the offender can be retrieved for trial after serving time elsewhere. Among those who are not dead or incarcerated, these searches will pick up anyone who has resumed normal life elsewhere under their real identity. Either result \u2014 removing a fugitive from your files or establishing a new basis for investigation \u2014 is a positive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The wealth of information potentially available to LEAs via open-source intelligence and especially social media is staggering, and has already begun to permanently change the way law enforcement is practiced. But taking full advantage of its potential requires tools built for the purpose, from the ground up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Spokeo is exactly that kind of tool. Its power, ease of use, and ability to integrate regulated and open-source data in a single search have already made it a standout product in the field. With the addition of Batch Append, which extends batch-search capabilities to agencies without the IT or financial resources needed to take advantage of our API, it becomes even more compelling. Better yet, Spokeo\u2019s subscription tiers are scalable enough to suit almost any LEA, from the largest to the smallest, and to be cost-effective at every step. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The bottom line is that Spokeo for Law Enforcement can help your investigators use their time more effectively and productively, and do it at a price point that fits your budget. To learn more, see a demonstration, or \u2014 best of all \u2014 arrange a hands-on trial of the product, reach out to our team today<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sources<\/p>\n\n\n\n Center for Data and Technology: Report: Legal Loopholes and Data for Dollars: How Law Enforcement and Intelligence Agencies Are Buying Your Data from Brokers<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Senator Ron Wyden: Wyden, Warren, Sanders, Whitehouse Renew Push to Protect Americans\u2019 Sensitive Data From Greedy Brokers<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Federal Bureau of Investigation: 2023 NCIC Missing Person and Unidentified Person Statistics<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
In some circumstances, even this kind of advanced search can fall short of investigators\u2019 needs. It\u2019s powerful when you need to search for a handful of individuals, but what if you need to search hundreds or thousands? With its most recent update, Spokeo now offers a feature we call Batch Append, which lets you tackle those big searches more efficiently.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Power of Batch Searching<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Putting Batch Append to Work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Data Hygiene<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Missing Persons Cases<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Unraveling Crowd Events<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Tracking Down Fugitives<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Doing More, With (and For) Less<\/h2>\n\n\n\n