Abstract: A disclosed encounter monitoring method includes: receiving an alert from an encounter monitoring application executing on a first user's personal communications device; responsive to said alert, determining a location of the first user's personal communications device and proximity for personal communications devices of other users of the encounter monitoring application to the location; automatically sending to the personal communications devices of one or more users nearest to the location a request to approach the location and observe; collecting and storing a streamed recording from the first user's personal communications device and any streamed recordings from the personal communications devices of users complying with said request; associating encounter information with each recording, said encounter information including at least date, time, location, and any identified participants; grouping together those recordings relating to a common encounter; processing grouped encounter recordings and associa