ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Defense Discovery Metadata Specification

Okay kiddo, imagine you have a secret diary where you write all your thoughts and feelings. If someone else wants to read your diary, you probably wouldn't want them to, right?

Well, in court, sometimes lawyers need to look at information related to a case to try and win their side. This information is called "discovery". But, just like your diary, some information is secret and shouldn't be shared.

That's where "metadata" comes in. Think of it as the information "about" the information - like the cover page of a book that tells you the title, author, and publisher. In court, lawyers use "metadata" to help them figure out what information can be shared and what information should be kept secret.

The Defense Discovery Metadata Specification is a set of rules for how metadata should be used in court cases where someone is accused of a crime. It helps the defense team figure out what information they need to give the prosecution (the people accusing the person of the crime) and what information they can keep private.

By using this specification, everyone can be sure that the right information is being shared in a fair and safe way.