In today's digital age, where information is readily accessible and technology permeates every aspect of our lives, background investigations have had to adapt and evolve.

As a result, Cyber Investigations™ and social media checks have emerged as vital tools, enabling a more comprehensive understanding of an individual's history and character.

With a few clicks, one can access an abundance of personal information, professional profiles, and online interactions that were previously unavailable. 

In this new landscape, it has become crucial for employers to incorporate Cyber Investigations™ and social media checks into their hiring processes.

What is a Cyber Investigation™?

Cyber Investigations™ involve delving into an individual's digital footprint to uncover information and insights. 

By leveraging specialized skills and expertise, investigators can navigate through vast troves of online data to identify potential red flags that may not surface through conventional methods. 

These investigations empower employers to make more informed decisions by piecing together a comprehensive picture of an individual's background.

The term “Cyber Investigation™” encompasses a variety of inquiries.  For example, Commercial Investigations offers five different inquiries, all under the Cyber Investigation™ umbrella. 

These inquiries are split into two categories, one being criminal searches, and the other focusing specifically on social media.

Social Media Checks

Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives, ingrained in nearly every aspect of society. 

Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn have created a digital space where individuals can share their thoughts, opinions, experiences, and personal information with the world.

Through social media checks, CI can delve into an individual's public posts, comments, photos, and interactions to gather valuable information about their character, behavior, and lifestyle choices. 

For example, a person's social media presence may reveal their hobbies, interests, and affiliations, giving employers a glimpse into their potential cultural fit within an organization. 

By analyzing the tone and content of posts and comments, investigators can assess an individual's communication style, professionalism, and alignment with company values.

Moreover, social media checks can unveil undisclosed information that candidates may not have shared during the application and interview process. These checks provide an opportunity to verify the accuracy of information provided by applicants, such as their education, work history, and qualifications. 

Inconsistencies or discrepancies between the information on social media profiles and the details provided in resumes and applications can raise red flags and prompt further investigation.

CI provides two options for obtaining information from an applicant’s social media presence, Social Media Scan and Eagle View, both being excellent options for obtaining applicant information. 

Eagle View provides employers with a general summary of an applicant’s social media presence.  Using AI, Eagle View searches all verified social media profiles and returns an overall score, detailed content breakdowns, word cloud analysis, sentiment trends, and risk categorization.

For a more granular review, CI’s Social Media Scan uses real humans, and our proven Human Intervention method, to obtain information based on specific parameters. 

By analyzing original content, including posts, comments, videos, and images, this scan offers crucial insights beyond mere account existence.  Both options provide the necessary additional information to make educated hiring decisions with today’s workforce.

In addition, social media checks can help identify potential risks or liabilities associated with an individual.  For instance, posts or photos that contain discriminatory, offensive, or illegal content can indicate a candidate's lack of judgment or ethical conduct. 

However, not all illegal online activity will be obtained by solely performing a social media check. 

To obtain additional criminal information, we move to the criminal category of Cyber Investigations™.

Criminal Enhancement

Employers have a multitude of reasons to conduct searches for additional criminal information, and their foremost concern is the safety and security of their workplace and employees. 

Taking a proactive approach helps prevent individuals with a history of criminal behavior or misconduct being inadvertently hired. 

By taking reasonable steps to uncover any relevant criminal information, employers showcase their due diligence by creating a safe and secure work environment for their staff and stakeholders. 

Also, if an organization fails to exercise reasonable care in hiring employees and an incident occurs, they may face legal consequences. 

By conducting comprehensive searches, employers can demonstrate their proactive measures to screen candidates thoroughly and their informed decisions based on the information available.

Additionally, these searches provide employers with insights that protect the best interests of their company.  By uncovering any undisclosed criminal history, employers can avoid potential reputational damage that might arise from employing individuals with a questionable background.

By utilizing CI's Cyber Investigation™ Criminal Enhancement, employers can access a wider range of relevant information about potential employees. 

Through this cyber criminal search, an additional 9-10% of criminal information is uncovered, providing additional data for our clients.  It is important to note that we exclusively rely on verifiable news sources to obtain this information, ensuring its accuracy and reliability.

Similarly, CI's Cyber Investigation™ Online Presence offers a comprehensive view of individuals by examining their digital footprint across various platforms. 

This investigation encompasses search engines, relevant articles, social media platforms, microblogs, databases, video posts, business reports, and database searches, ensuring a thorough examination of an individual's online presence.

One distinctive feature of an Online Presence investigation is the illicit activity scan, specifically targeting current and archived sites associated with illegal and offensive behavior. 

By including this scan, employers can identify any past or present involvement in activities that could pose a risk to the organization's reputation or the safety of its employees.

Through Criminal Enhancement and Online Presence, employers gain a comprehensive understanding of potential employees beyond what is typically available through traditional background checks. 

These investigations provide valuable insights that contribute to a more comprehensive evaluation of candidates and enable employers to make hiring decisions with greater confidence.

Compliance Considerations

While Cyber Investigations™ and social media checks offer beneficial information, it is essential to address the ethical considerations and privacy concerns associated with these practices. 

Respecting privacy rights and adhering to legal and ethical guidelines is paramount to maintain trust and integrity throughout the background investigation process.

One of the primary ethical considerations is striking a balance between the need for information and an individual's right to privacy. 

Employers must ensure that the methods used for Cyber Investigations™ and social media checks are appropriate, reasonable, and align with applicable laws and regulations.

The best method to stay compliant with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and other federal agencies in the background investigation process is to partner with a professional and reputable private investigative agency. 

Your partner will only pass along information that can be used in the hiring decision, ensuring your team does not see legally protected information before the decision is made.

The Power of Integration

By leveraging Cyber Investigations™ and their ability to uncover deeper information, employers can gain another view of an applicant that may not be apparent through traditional background checks alone. 

The digital footprint left by individuals across various online platforms can reveal crucial details about their past, affiliations, and behaviors. 

Social media checks, in particular, provide a window into an individual's online persona and can help employers evaluate their character, communication style, and cultural fit within an organization.

Ultimately, the integration of these inquiries strengthens the background check process, enhancing its accuracy and effectiveness. 

By combining these two approaches, employers can make more informed decisions, reduce the risks associated with hiring, and protect the integrity and reputation of their organization.

As we navigate the digital frontier, employers must embrace the tools and techniques afforded by the digital age.  Cyber Investigations™ and social media checks have become critical elements in assessing an individual's background, providing relevant information and reducing potential risks. 

By incorporating these practices alongside traditional methods, employers can achieve thorough and informed decisions, ensuring a safer and more secure working environment.