When ModeOne CEO and Founder Matt Rasmussen presented to the Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School’s eDiscovery class, students got a first-hand look at how cloud-based innovation is transforming digital forensics and data collection.
The Data Challenge in Today’s Mobile-First World
With over 4.88 billion smartphone users globally – and 81% of Americans relying on their phones daily – mobile devices have become central to communication, business, and evidence. Each minute, messages, photos, and app data multiply exponentially, creating massive challenges for legal professionals tasked with preserving, collecting, and reviewing this data efficiently and defensibly.
Traditional forensic workflows often involve manual collection, physical device handling, and full-image extraction – methods that are slow, expensive, and intrusive. Add in modern complexities like remote work, BYOD policies, and diverse app ecosystems, and it’s clear that yesterday’s collection methods can’t keep pace with today’s data realities.
Real-World Consequences: From Texts to Trials
Matt shared several recent cases where text messages played a pivotal role – from high-profile entertainment lawsuits to billion-dollar securities fraud settlements. In each, mobile communications became the linchpin of truth. Yet these examples also reveal how fragile compliance and evidence management can be without robust, scalable, and secure data-collection solutions.
The SEC’s record-keeping investigations since 2021 have underscored this issue. Firms have faced over $1.7 billion in fines for “off-channel communications” on apps like iMessage and WhatsApp – proof that even regulated industries struggle to keep pace with the evolving communication landscape.
A Smarter, Faster Way Forward
That’s where ModeOne steps in. Matt walked students through how ModeOne’s cloud-based, self-service platform allows legal teams to perform remote, targeted mobile data extractions – capturing only what’s relevant while keeping custodian data private.
Key advantages highlighted during the session included:
- Global, Remote, and Scalable workflows that eliminate the need to ship devices.
- Targeted Data Collection to reduce overcollection and irrelevant noise.
- Rapid Deployment and Results, often enabling same-day review within hours.
- Enhanced Privacy and Proportionality, aligning with evolving discovery standards.
By replacing cumbersome legacy workflows with 90-minute average collection times, ModeOne demonstrates how technology can meet the dual demands of speed and defensibility in modern discovery.
Educating the Next Generation of Legal Technologists
This isn’t Matt’s first time engaging with SIU’s students—or other university programs nationwide. His continued involvement reflects ModeOne’s belief that education and innovation go hand in hand.
“Educating future legal and technology professionals is key to ensuring that innovation in our industry continues responsibly and effectively,” Rasmussen said. “I’m honored to share how ModeOne’s work is helping legal teams achieve faster, more accurate, and more defensible outcomes.”
The Future of eDiscovery Is Already Here
ModeOne’s mission is simple: make mobile data discovery faster, smarter, and more secure. As students left the classroom, they weren’t just thinking about text messages—they were thinking about the future of digital evidence, where technology like ModeOne’s empowers professionals to focus on insight, not process.