Given the nature of this type of information, verifying electronic information requires a separate discussion. Electronic information, such as from social media or websites, can be misleading, by accident or on purpose. The freely accessible Verification Handbook may prove useful for this type of verification exercise. 177 With regard to verifying information from social media platforms, for example, the Verification Handbook outlines the following basic steps: • Identify the original source/content. It is important to make sure that you possess the original content, regardless of whether the content is an image, video, tweet or something else. Try to determine who the original source is and whether that source is reliable by gathering information on the author. • Verify the original content. It is important to verify the date and time and to identify the location of the content. The Verification Handbook provides different tools and tips on how to verify the content of different sources of information. • When the (original) content is verified, it is important to consider the content in a broader context and examine whether the information fits the bigger picture and context. When possible, ask the source questions that you can cross-reference with your own research. • Finally, always obtain permission from the author or originator of the content before using it elsewhere. When using certain images and videos, be aware of the risks that might be involved for the individuals in front of or behind the camera. Always respect the do no harm principle. The specific tools that can to be used when going through the basic steps for verifying content depend on the type of information that is being verified. The Verification Handbook makes a distinction between User – Generated Content, Images, and Videos and can be consulted for more specific guidelines. 177 Craig Silverman and Merill Perlman, VERIFICATION HANDBOOK (2014), available at http://verificationhandbook.com/. 117