In 2023, a significant robbery took place in a major U.S. metropolitan area, and despite extensive efforts, local law enforcement found themselves without leads. Traditional investigative methods were ineffective in identifying or apprehending the suspects.
Faced with this challenge, the department turned to a lesser-known approach among law enforcement: using geolocation metadata to track mobile devices. By identifying several devices in the area at the time of the robbery, they made progress in the case. Officers cross-referenced the data from this platform with other investigative sources, ultimately leading to the arrest of the suspects.
Although no investigative tool is a cure-all, geolocation metadata played a critical role in solving the case. This technology has been used successfully by various agencies to generate leads across a range of crimes. While not yet widely adopted, integrating geolocation metadata into existing investigative processes is straightforward for police departments.
WHAT EXACTLY IS GEOLOCATION METADATA?
Mobile devices and their users constantly share information through apps. While the specifics vary between applications, the process is generally the same: If location services are enabled, apps collect data on your whereabouts, such as traffic information from Google Maps, game updates in Pokémon Go or order-ahead options at Starbucks.
This data includes not only your location (latitude and longitude) but also additional details, such as demographic information, gathered through GPS signals, Wi-Fi connections and IP addresses. These data points are collected by various companies and transmitted through the applications’ software and may be referred to as “geolocations” or “geos.”
Geolocations are valuable for uncovering leads or verifying that investigators are pursuing the correct individuals. Instead of relying solely on witness statements or surveillance footage, geolocation metadata supports investigations in several ways, offering a more comprehensive understanding of suspect movements and behaviors.
• Track suspect movements during specific time frames to confirm or rule out involvement.
• Analyze behavior patterns to identify criminal associates or predict future crimes.
• Optimize surveillance by strategically deploying resources based on suspects’ habits.
• Cross-reference with other data, such as banking or social media, for a complete picture of criminal networks.
A NEW SOLUTION EMERGES
The ability to retrospectively analyze events through geolocation metadata has proven invaluable for law enforcement, yet many agencies are not fully leveraging this technology. Initially, geolocation data may seem like a complex and costly tool to incorporate into investigative processes. This challenge is precisely what Mark Johnson, CEO of Sovereign Intelligence and former NCIS special agent, aimed to address.
“Law enforcement doesn’t have the budget for expensive, sophisticated software,” Johnson explained. “When I founded Sovereign Intelligence, my goal was to make advanced, high-speed analytics accessible to local agencies – tools that are otherwise difficult and expensive to obtain. By simplifying the technology, I believed it could transform law enforcement.”
Johnson’s time as a criminal defense lawyer and later with NCIS, particularly after 9/11, reinforced the importance of having access to the right data at the right time. “When you have good data, things go very well. But when you don’t, everything can go wrong – and in most cases, it’s due to not getting the right information when needed. That drove me to create software that benefits both analysts and field agents,” Johnson said.
‘IT’S SUCH A POWERFUL ANALYTIC’
In 2014, Johnson launched Aurora: GeoStudio, the flagship platform of Sovereign Intelligence. Designed with ease of use in mind, investigators can be fully operational after a brief one-hour onboarding session, with unlimited access to training materials and instructional videos. The platform also includes a generative AI feature, enabling users to ask direct questions and receive actionable insights.
Aurora: GeoStudio is highly intuitive – investigators can observe specific devices, which are assigned pseudonyms within the system, and view their activity from up to three years in the past. The platform visually presents data such as patterns of movement, from frequent shopping trips to time spent at the gym, and users can download, print or record the data for further analysis.
The platform also allows for customizable reports, enabling investigators to view all devices in a particular area during a specific time, trace the history of an individual device or dive deep into a device’s activity through its IP addresses. “The ability to go back in time and generate leads based on past activity is such a powerful analytic,” Johnson emphasized.
In addition to its functionality, Aurora: GeoStudio is cost-effective. Johnson notes that it is offered as a software as a service (SaaS) and can be accessed on any laptop or mobile device with a web browser, requiring only a license for use.
PROVIDING CERTAINTY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP
As with many investigative tools, the data gathered from Aurora: GeoStudio must be verified through other sources before law enforcement can take definitive action. Johnson explains that geolocation metadata is particularly useful for gathering information that can support obtaining subpoenas and serves as a crucial step in advancing investigations.
Geolocation metadata is beneficial for all agencies, but smaller departments may see it as beyond their reach. However, Johnson emphasizes that Aurora: GeoStudio provides an affordable way to level the playing field, offering smaller agencies the same investigative insights.
“You have access to the globe,” Johnson says. “We’re not limiting local law enforcement to just their jurisdiction. It’s easy to determine if someone has crossed state lines or traveled internationally. This capacity allows you to collaborate, create task forces and take the next step in your investigation.”
Visit Sovereign Intelligence for more information.