Instant Messaging Rules: A Business Guide to Managing Policies, Security, and Legal Issues for Safe IM Communication

IM Rule # 26: Beware: Destroying Instant Messaging Evidence After a Lawsuit Is Filed Is Illegal.

Employees who destroy instant messages and other evidence after they know about a lawsuit or an investigation put the organization and themselves at risk of civil and criminal penalties. Establish a litigation response team and strategy to ensure that employees hold onto instant messages that are related to a lawsuit or an investigation, and which would normally be disposed of in the course of business. ^[10]

^[10]Ibid.