Keep a public appeal separate from a private case record

A public appeal and a private case record serve different purposes. The appeal helps someone recognize a person and pass information onward. The private record supports coordination and official follow-up. Copying the entire private record into a public form defeats that distinction.

Build the public version deliberately

Start with a blank page rather than exporting your notes wholesale. Include the approved photograph, a concise description, the relevant event date and area, and the agreed public contact route. Check that each detail serves a clear purpose.

Exact addresses, private witness contacts, identity documents, and detailed health information usually require a more restricted channel. Ask the responsible authority about any information whose public value and safety are unclear.

Maintain one source record

Keep the private record with the authorized coordinator and appropriate professionals. Track where each public statement came from so a correction can be made without searching through an entire chat history.

• Public: information needed for recognition and reporting a lead.
• Restricted: details needed for coordination or assessment.
• Unnecessary: material that serves neither purpose.

These categories are a working aid, not a legal determination of what may be published.

Review before every new format

A poster, a short video, and a website form may reveal different details. A screenshot can include phone numbers in a notification bar or names from a private chat.

Inspect the actual material being shared. Privacy depends on what appears in the final image and text, not merely on the permissions of the folder it came from.