Account takedown evidence checklist

Start with the item a reviewer needs to locate

Save the exact public profile or channel URL and the current handle. Then collect the specific post, video, comment, or message that demonstrates your concern. A display name alone may identify several accounts. A screenshot without a link may leave important questions about its source. Together, the identifying information and context make your own record easier to follow.

This checklist is an editorial preparation aid, not a platform-mandated evidence standard. Only provide what the official reporting process accepts and requests. Some forms have no attachment field; others ask for particular details. Do not invent a workaround that requires publishing private material just to create a link.

Use dates and timestamps carefully

Record when the material appeared if that information is visible, and when you observed it. Distinguish those two dates. For video, note the relevant playback time and briefly describe what occurs there. For a conversation, preserve enough preceding and following messages to show the meaning of the disputed exchange. If a date is approximate, say so.

A simple chronological note is often clearer than a long narrative. For example: “On 15 October I received the first message; on 16 October the same profile sent the linked payment request.” Do not infer when an account was created from the date of its earliest visible post. Do not treat an edited screenshot's file date as proof of when the original content was published.

Keep originals and distinguish observation from inference

Store unaltered originals privately where appropriate. If you make a cropped copy for readability, retain the complete version and make the crop clear. Do not enhance, reconstruct, or generate missing content. A report should explain what is visible, not turn an uncertain recollection into apparent documentary proof.

Separate three categories in your notes: what you personally saw, what another person told you, and what you suspect. Only the first two can be described with their actual source. A claim that several accounts belong to the same person needs evidence; matching writing styles or posting times do not establish that on their own.

Include enough information without exposing more people

• Account or channel URL and handle.
• Relevant content links and video timestamps where applicable.
• Observation dates, with uncertainty stated.
• A short description of the conduct and the relevant policy concern.
• The genuine identity or public business presence if impersonation is involved.
• Your relationship to the concern, where the form asks.

Avoid including unrelated addresses, financial details, private messages from bystanders, or identity documents in a general narrative. Specialized forms may have specific requirements. For example, YouTube's copyright process asks for rights-related information and explains its disclosure rules. This general checklist does not replace those requirements.

Write a short report description

Use a simple sequence: what happened, where it can be seen, and why the context matters. Fictional example: “The linked message asks customers to pay a deposit while claiming to represent our studio. The profile uses our name and logo. Our genuine booking page is linked for comparison. I observed the message on 16 October.” Remove any sentence you cannot support.

Do not fill the explanation with insults, guesses about motives, or demands for a particular penalty. If the issue is repeated conduct, select relevant examples and explain the sequence. Keep the examples tied to your explanation. Follow the official form's prompts rather than assuming an unlimited attachment bundle will be reviewed.

Check the route and keep the receipt

Before submitting, confirm that you selected the intended account and the correct item. Read the category once more. Verify that links have not accidentally pointed to your own profile or a repost without the original context. The distinction between account and content reports matters when the concern exists in a specific post.

After submission, record the date and any reference supplied. Keep that record separate from the evidence itself. A receipt confirms a submission, not that the platform has accepted your allegation or decided on a ban. The checklist below tracks preparation only; it does not submit anything to a platform.

Questions answered