How Country Experts Should Address Digital Open Source Information in Expert Reports

Digital open source information can form part of the material considered when preparing a country expert report. Online news reports, government publications, academic research, social media content and other publicly available sources may provide relevant country information, depending on the issue being considered.

However, information being available online does not by itself establish that it is accurate, current, representative or relevant to an individual case. A country expert may therefore need to consider the source, date, context and relevance of digital material before relying on it as part of their analysis.

For solicitors preparing immigration or asylum cases, understanding how digital open source information may be considered can help clarify the distinction between published country information and independent expert analysis.

What Is Digital Open Source Information?

Digital open source information generally refers to material that is publicly accessible without requiring privileged or confidential access.

Depending on the circumstances, this may include:

• Government publications and official statements
• Reports from international organisations
• Academic research
• Research published by established organisations
• News reporting
• Publicly available court or tribunal material
• Public statements by political or community organisations
• Public social media posts
• Online publications by journalists or researchers
• Archived web material
• Publicly available statistical information

The relevance and reliability of these sources can vary. A country expert may therefore need to consider the nature of each source and explain how relevant material informs the analysis.

Why Source Assessment Matters

A country expert report is not simply a collection of information found online. The expert may need to assess relevant country information in the context of the specific questions set out in the instructions.

Digital material can present particular issues because it may be:

• Published without clear authorship
• Undated or difficult to date accurately
• Updated without preserving earlier versions
• Presented without sufficient context
• Based on unverified allegations
• Reproduced from another source
• Written for a different purpose or audience
• Difficult to establish as representative of wider conditions

These considerations do not necessarily make digital information unusable. They indicate why the material may need to be considered carefully and described accurately.

Assessing the Source

Identify Who Published the Information

The identity and nature of the publisher can help place digital material in context.

For example, a country expert may distinguish between:

• An official government publication
• An international organisation report
• Academic research
• Research by an established organisation
• A media report
• An individual's public social media post

Different sources may have different purposes, methodologies and limitations. The source should therefore be described accurately rather than being presented as something it is not.

Consider the Date

Country conditions can change over time. Digital material may therefore need to be considered alongside its publication date and, where relevant, the date of the events it describes.

An older article may still provide useful historical context, but it may not necessarily describe current conditions. Similarly, a recent online publication may describe a particular event without establishing wider conditions.

The significance of the date depends on the issue being considered.

Check Whether the Material Is Original

Online information is often reproduced across multiple websites.

Several websites repeating the same report do not necessarily represent several independent sources. Where appropriate, it may be useful to identify the original publication and distinguish it from later reproductions, summaries or commentary.

This can help avoid overstating the amount of independent material available on a particular issue.

Using Social Media as Country Information

Public social media content can sometimes provide information about events, statements or experiences within a country. It can also raise particular questions about attribution, context and verification.

Public Does Not Mean Verified

A publicly accessible post may record what an individual or organisation has stated. It does not automatically establish that every factual assertion in the post is accurate.

When considering social media material, an expert may distinguish between:

• What the post itself records
• Who appears to have published it
• Whether the account can reasonably be attributed to the stated person or organisation
• Whether other available information supports the claim
• Whether the material is relevant to the question being considered

Screenshots and Archived Material

Screenshots can preserve material that may later be edited or removed. However, a screenshot may provide limited information about the original publication, surrounding context or authenticity.

Where digital material is significant to an expert's analysis, the report may explain what material was considered and how it relates to the opinion expressed.

Cross-Checking Digital Sources

Where an online source is significant to an expert's analysis, considering other available material may help identify inconsistencies, limitations or relevant context.

Depending on the issue, an expert may consider whether information is supported or contextualised by:

• Other reporting
• Official publications
• Research reports
• Academic sources
• Statistical information
• Relevant historical material
• Other available country information

This does not mean that every online statement must be independently confirmed by multiple sources. The appropriate approach can depend on the nature of the material, its significance and the questions within the expert's instructions.

Linking Digital Information to the Individual Case

The relevance of country information may depend on how it relates to the specific issues being considered.

A country expert may be asked to consider matters such as:

• Treatment of a particular social or ethnic group
• Availability of state protection
• Internal relocation
• Regional differences
• Language or identity issues
• Treatment of people with a particular profile
• Conditions affecting a particular community

General information about a country does not necessarily establish what will happen to a particular individual. An expert may therefore need to explain the relevance and limitations of the available country material when applying their specialist knowledge to the questions in the instructions.

For further information about the types of country expert evidence covered by Independent Country Expert, see the expertise areas.

Handling Conflicting Online Information

Different digital sources may provide different accounts of the same event or condition.

Where this occurs, an expert may consider factors such as:

• The source's purpose
• The date of publication
• The information available when it was published
• The geographical scope
• The methodology used
• Whether the source is reporting an allegation or established information
• Whether other available material supports or contradicts the account

Where uncertainty or disagreement remains, the report can identify the relevant limitations rather than presenting a disputed point as settled.

Avoiding Overstatement

Careful wording is important when discussing digital sources.

There can be a meaningful difference between statements such as:

• "A publicly available report states that..."
• "Several sources report..."
• "The available material indicates..."
• "This source provides information about..."
• "This establishes that..."

The appropriate wording depends on what the available material supports.

A country expert may therefore distinguish between an allegation, a reported event, available country information and an independent expert opinion. This can help prevent online commentary from being presented as more conclusive than the underlying material supports.

Recording Sources Clearly

A country expert report should make the material relied upon sufficiently clear for the reader to understand the basis of the analysis.

Depending on the source, this may include:

• The author or organisation
• The title of the publication
• The publication date
• The relevant webpage or document
• The date accessed, where appropriate
• The specific material relied upon

Clear identification can also help distinguish the expert's analysis from information obtained from external sources.

What Solicitors Can Consider When Providing Digital Material to an Expert

Solicitors may provide relevant digital material as part of their instructions, particularly where it relates directly to the questions they want the expert to consider.

Identify the Specific Issue

Explain what issue the material is intended to assist with. This may help the expert assess its relevance rather than treating every document as equally significant.

Provide the Source Where Possible

Where available, providing the original publication may give the expert more context than providing only a screenshot or copied extract.

Include Relevant Dates

Publication dates, event dates and other relevant dates can help an expert place the material in its proper context.

Explain Relevant Context

If a digital source relates to a particular incident, individual, region or organisation, relevant background information may help the expert understand why it has been provided.

Identify the Question for the Expert

The instructions can identify the specific factual or country-related question on which expert evidence is sought. The expert can then address matters within their expertise without being asked to determine the legal outcome of the case.

The Difference Between Source Material and Expert Opinion

Digital open source information and expert opinion serve different purposes.

Source material may provide information about events, policies, conditions or developments. Expert opinion involves applying relevant specialist knowledge to the questions within the expert's instructions.

A report may therefore distinguish between:

1. Information obtained from external sources
2. Factual assumptions provided for the purpose of the report
3. The expert's analysis
4. The expert's opinion

Keeping these elements distinct can make the reasoning within the report easier to follow.

A Practical Approach to Digital Open Source Information

A possible approach to relevant digital information may include:

1. Identifying the source.
2. Considering its date and context.
3. Checking whether it appears to be original or reproduced elsewhere.
4. Assessing its relevance to the specific question.
5. Considering whether the information can reasonably be cross-checked or contextualised.
6. Identifying material limitations or uncertainties.
7. Explaining how the information informs the expert's analysis.
8. Distinguishing source material from the expert's own opinion.

The appropriate level of consideration will depend on the material, the subject matter and the instructions provided.

Conclusion

Digital open source information can form part of country research and expert analysis, but its online availability does not automatically establish its reliability, currency or relevance. The significance of a source may depend on factors including its origin, date, context, methodology and relationship to the issues being considered.

For solicitors, providing relevant digital material with clear instructions may help an expert focus on the country-related questions that require specialist knowledge. For experts, careful consideration of source material can help distinguish published information from independent professional opinion.

Where specialist country evidence may be relevant to an immigration or asylum matter, the expertise areas page provides an overview of the areas in which country expert evidence may be considered. Solicitors who need to discuss a case can use the contact page to provide a brief.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about the consideration of digital open source material in country expert evidence. It is not legal advice and does not replace the applicable procedural rules, directions or professional requirements for an individual case. Last Reviewed: September 2026