⚖️Recognized as public record in all 50 states
Government

Social media is a public record in all 50 states.

Government agencies face significant challenges managing social media while complying with public records laws. Brolly ensures every interaction is properly captured, stored securely, and easily retrievable — meeting your legal obligations and protecting against legal issues.

Explore your state ▶  Watch the overview
Automatic, real-time captureCourt-defensible recordsSetup in under an hour
American county courthouse at dusk
0/50states recognize social media as public record
3–10 daystypical statutory response window
0%of edits & deletions preserved automatically
Minutesto export a complete records package
The Obligation

If your agency touched it,
it's probably a record.

Public records laws don't stop at official posts. Anything created or received in the course of official business on social media can fall within scope.

Posts & announcements

Every official post on every channel — including scheduled and boosted content.

Comments & replies

Citizen comments and agency replies — the two-way conversation is part of the record.

Edits

Changed a post? The original version is still a record. Both must be preserved.

Deletions

Deleted comments and removed posts remain subject to production.

Reactions

Likes and reactions on and by official accounts can be discoverable.

Images & video

Shared media, live streams and stories — attachments are records too.

Direct messages

DMs to and from official accounts conducted on public business.

Metadata

Timestamps, authorship and version history — what makes a record defensible.

State by State

Public records compliance,
state by state.

Every state has laws requiring governments to capture and produce digital records. Select your state to see its statute, its response deadline, and how Brolly helps your agency stay compliant.

Find your state

Public Records ActState

State guidance →
How Brolly Helps

Capture everything.
Produce anything.

Every interaction, captured the moment it happens.

Brolly connects to your agency's accounts and archives everything in real time — including the comments citizens delete and the posts staff edit. No browser extensions, no manual saves, no gaps.

  • Automatic, real-time capture across every connected channel
  • Edits & deletions preserved with full version history
  • Metadata, timestamps & checksums for chain of custody
Brolly capture illustration

One-click exports.
Request-ready in minutes.

When a records request lands, run a saved search, apply filters for edits and deletions, and export a complete, defensible package — PDF, CSV/JSON and media — in the formats requesters and courts expect.

  • Saved searches tuned to your statute's definitions
  • One-click export with edit/delete history included
  • Audit-ready logs that stand up in court
One-click export illustration

Cut costs, not corners —
archiving that pays for itself.

Manual archiving burns staff hours on screenshots and spreadsheets that still miss what matters. Brolly replaces the scramble with a process your records officers can run in an afternoon.

  • Hours back every week for records and communications staff
  • Policy-based retention applied automatically
  • Pricing that scales from a single clerk to a state agency
Cut costs illustration

All social accounts

Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok, Nextdoor and more.

Data & exports

PDF, CSV/JSON and full media bundles, exported in one click.

Digital checksums

Every record verified unaltered since capture — chain of custody intact.

Beyond screenshots

Metadata, timestamps, edit history — everything screenshots miss.

See It In Action

Every post. Every comment.
Every edit. Captured.

Watch how government agencies use Brolly to turn everyday social media activity into compliant, produce-on-request public records.

Watch the overview
1:25
Automatic, real-time capture across every channel
Edits and deletions preserved as evidence
Produce records in minutes, not weeks
The Gap

Why screenshots and manual exports aren't enough.

Requirement
Manual methods
Brolly
Captures comments & replies in real time
Only what someone remembers to save
Automatic, every channel, 24/7
Preserves edits & deletions
Gone before anyone notices
Full version history retained
Metadata & timestamps
Screenshots strip them
Complete, with digital checksums
Chain of custody
Unverifiable
Audit logs, court-defensible
Produce within statutory deadline
Days of scrambling across platforms
Saved search → export in minutes
Retention schedules
Ad-hoc folders and drives
Policy-based, applied automatically
ISO 27001 certified

Security & compliance you can trust.

Brolly is ISO 27001 certified — the international gold standard for information security management. Your records are encrypted in transit and at rest, stored immutably with digital checksums, and covered by complete audit trails.

ISO 27001 certifiedEncrypted in transit & at restImmutable storageFull audit trailRole-based access
Common Questions

Records officers ask. We answer.

Is social media really a public record in my state?
Yes. All 50 states and D.C. have public records laws, and regulators and courts have applied them to social media content created or received in the course of official business. Use the state selector above for your statute and response window.
Aren't screenshots enough to comply?
No. Screenshots miss metadata, timestamps, edit history and deletions — the elements that make a record complete and defensible. A deleted comment is still a record; if it was never captured, you can't produce it.
Do citizen comments on our posts count as records?
Generally yes — content "received" by the agency in the course of official business is typically within scope, which includes comments and replies on official accounts.
What happens if we can't produce records in time?
Consequences vary by state but can include statutory fines, attorney's-fee awards, adverse rulings in litigation, and mandatory disclosure orders — plus the reputational cost of a public records failure.
How fast can we get started?
Onboarding typically takes under an hour: connect your accounts, set retention policies, and capture begins immediately.

Not ready for a trial? Book a 20-minute consultation.

Talk through your agency's records obligations with our public-sector team. No demo scripts, no pressure — just answers about where your agency stands under your state's law.

Free, no commitmentRecords officers welcomeSame-week availability
Book a consultation

Be ready before the request arrives.

Thirty minutes with our public-sector team, and you'll know exactly where your agency stands.

Start free trial Find your state