What does a location shared in a message prove?¶

A shared location proves that an account communicated a location reference, subject to the message's provenance. It does not by itself prove that the sender or device was physically at that point.

The point may come from several sources¶

A user can share a device-detected position, manually select a map point, search for a place or send a stored business address. They may also forward a location received elsewhere. The visible pin, place label and underlying coordinates are therefore distinct details worth preserving.

Record the complete message, account and message identifiers, timestamp and time basis, coordinates, map-provider details and whether the feature was static or live. The distinction matters because live-location sharing can produce a sequence of device-reported updates rather than a single selected point.

Presence needs corroboration¶

Compare the shared value with device-location artefacts, photographs, network activity, travel records, CCTV, witnesses and surrounding messages. Check for delayed sending and device clock differences where timing matters.

Even without proving presence, the message may evidence knowledge, planning, an instruction or a meeting reference. State that narrower proposition where appropriate. Attribute the device's position or a person's presence only when additional evidence supports it.