A single capture is not enough
Compare nearby timestamps when possible. Newsroom verification is stronger when you can show continuity across captures.
Journalists: Verify Deleted Statements
A practical workflow for newsroom teams that need defensible archived evidence from public Twitter captures.
This use case is designed for reporters, editors, and fact-checkers. The goal is not just to find a deleted tweet, but to create an evidence trail that survives review and handoff.
Quick answer: Use Xarchive to query Internet Archive CDX records, compare captures around the reporting window, and export the verified set with timestamps.
30-Second Workflow
- Collect the direct tweet URL, profile URL, and the reporting window you need to verify.
- Run the URL search in Xarchive and narrow captures to the dates around the statement.
- Open the nearest captures before and after the claimed deletion or edit.
- Record the archive URL, UTC timestamp, and any visible context such as replies, media, or profile bio.
- Export the result set in HTML for editors and CSV or JSON for structured fact-checking notes.
Verification Checks
Profile captures can add context
If the direct tweet URL is missing, profile snapshots may still confirm the statement, timeline position, or linked content.
Archive gaps should be stated explicitly
Internet Archive coverage depends on public crawls. Absence of a capture is not proof that a post never existed.
Data Source and Limitations
Data source: Internet Archive CDX index (https://web.archive.org/cdx/search/cdx). Results only reflect publicly archived captures and may be incomplete.
Run This in Xarchive
Search captures, verify timestamps, and export the final evidence set in one workflow.