Transparency Overview
We’re committed to protecting the rights of our users and being transparent about how we handle government requests for user data.
Our guiding principles
Stewardship of your data is a responsibility we embrace. These principles describe our commitment to your privacy and how we'll handle requests from government and law enforcement agencies seeking information about our users.
Be transparent
Online services should be allowed to publish the number and types of government requests they receive and to notify individuals when information about them has been requested. This type of transparency empowers users by helping them better understand instances and patterns of government overreach. We’ll publish detailed information about these requests and advocate for the right to provide more of this important information.
Fight overly broad requests
Government data requests should be limited in the information they seek and narrowly tailored to specific people and legitimate investigations. We’ll resist blanket and overly broad requests.
Provide trusted services
Governments should never install backdoors into online services or compromise infrastructure to obtain user data. We’ll continue to work to protect our systems and to change laws to make it clear that this type of activity is illegal.
Where do requests originate?
At this time, we typically require non-US governments to work with US government agencies so that a US court may issue the appropriate legal process toSIID™.
How requests happen
- We get a request
Law enforcement sends us a request for user information, such as a subpoena or search warrant.
- We scrutinize
We analyze requests to determine whether they are legally and procedurally valid. We narrow or resist requests when appropriate.
- We respond
Once we’ve determined that a request is valid, we typically notify the user (unless we’re legally prohibited from doing so) and respond with an encrypted copy of the information specified in the legal process.