Can screenshots of chat records be used as legal evidence?

screenshots of chat records can be used as legal evidence.

Electronic data refers to words and figures formed by electronic technology, such as emails and chat records.

The following conditions need to be met:

1. As evidence, social software and short messages must ensure that their contents are objective, true and reliable;

2. As evidence materials, the chat records of social software and SMS need to be related to the facts of the case;

3. Social software and SMS chat records must also be legal.

Legal evidence refers to the basis for ascertaining the facts of a case according to the procedural rules. Evidence is of great significance for the parties to carry out litigation activities, safeguard their legitimate rights and interests, and find out the facts of the case and judge correctly according to law. The problem of evidence is the core of litigation. In the trial of any case, it is necessary to restore the true nature of the incident through the evidence chain formed by evidence and evidence, and the judgment based on sufficient evidence can be a fair judgment. Evidence should exist objectively. Forging or destroying evidence is illegal and should be investigated by law.

Legal basis

Article 66 of the Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China

Evidence includes:

(1) statements of the parties;

(2) documentary evidence;

(3) physical evidence;

(4) audio-visual materials;

(5) electronic data;

(6) witness testimony;

(7) appraisal opinions;

(8) record of inspection.

evidence must be verified before it can be used as a basis for ascertaining facts. Article 68 The parties shall provide evidence in time for their own claims.

the people's court determines the evidence that the parties should provide and its time limit according to the trial of the main XXX case. If it is really difficult for the parties to provide evidence within the time limit, they may apply to the people's court for an extension of the time limit, and the people's court shall extend the time limit appropriately according to the application of the parties. If a party provides evidence within the time limit, the people's court shall order it to explain the reasons; If the people refuse to explain the reasons or the reasons are untenable, the people's court may, according to different circumstances, reject the evidence, or accept the evidence but admonish it and impose a fine.