BCIT’s Forensic Science and Technology Program Head, David McKay, was featured in the North Shore News about his work in digital forensics.
Photo from North Shore News (McKay examines video footage from his office in North Vancouver – photo Mike Wakefield)
McKay, a North Vancouver resident, first honed his skills as a forensic video analyst with several Lower Mainland RCMP detachments, including North Vancouver. More recently, he’s taught techniques in analyzing digital clues as head of forensic science and technology at BCIT, as well as examining evidence as a private consultant through his North Vancouver company Blackstone Forensics.
McKay doesn’t start by looking for anything specific in the videos. His job is to make sure the best information is available to those who will reach conclusions about it. “Most people can look at video and make their own determination about what they’re seeing,” he says.
Working with original videos, photos or recordings is key to digital forensic analysis.
“You don’t want to rely on what someone’s posted on Facebook or Twitter,” says McKay, “Because we don’t know the processing that’s happened to it before it was posted…”
“It can be easy to alter and manipulate some of this information,” says McKay – as anyone who’s used an Instagram filter is aware. “You really have to be careful what you believe when you see things on the internet.”