These guidelines are intended for law enforcement personnel seeking to request information about Twitter users. More general information on Twitter's Rules can be found here.
Twitter is a real-time information network powered by people all around the world that lets users share and discover what's happening now. Users send 140 character messages through our website and mobile site, client applications, or any variety of third-party applications. For more information, you can also visit http://twitter.com/about.
For the latest on Twitter's features and functions please visit our Help Center.
User information is held by Twitter, Inc. in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. We require a subpoena, court order, or other valid legal process to disclose information about our users.
Most Twitter profile information is public, so anyone can see it. A Twitter profile contains a profile image, background image, and status updates, called Tweets. In addition, the user has the option to fill out location, a URL, and a short "bio" section about themselves for display on their public profile. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information on the data we collect from users.
Twitter does not provide multimedia (photos or videos) hosting other than for a user's profile image and account background image, and therefore is not able to provide images or videos that a user may share through their account. More information can be found on our Photo and Video Sharing page.
In accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, non-public information about Twitter users is not released unless we have received a subpoena, court order, or other valid legal process document. Some information we store is automatically collected, while other information is provided at the user’s discretion. Though we do store this information, it may not be accurate if the user has created a fake or anonymous profile. Twitter doesn’t require email verification or identity authentication.
Twitter retains different types of information for different time periods. Given Twitter's real-time nature, some information may only be stored for a very brief period of time.
Preservation requests must be signed, include a valid return email address, and sent on law enforcement letterhead. Requests may be sent via the methods described below.
Twitter's policy is to notify users of requests for their information prior to disclosure unless we are prohibited from doing so by statute or court order.
Twitter, Inc. is located in San Francisco, California and will only respond in compliance with U.S. law to valid legal process.
Twitter accepts legal process from law enforcement agencies delivered by mail or fax. Acceptance of legal process by these means is for convenience only and does not waive any objections, including the lack of jurisdiction or proper service. Your request should include the URL of the Twitter profile in question (eg., http://twitter.com/safety or @safety), and details about what specific information is requested.
Twitter conducts most correspondence via email, so PLEASE INCLUDE A VALID EMAIL ADDRESS so we may contact you. To contact us, email: lawenforcement@ twitter.com
You can fax Twitter, attention Trust & Safety, at 1-415-222-9958.
Or you can mail your request to Twitter:
Twitter, Inc.
795 Folsom Street
Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 94107
Only email from law enforcement domains will be accepted. All others will be disregarded. Non-law enforcement requests should be sent through our regular support methods (http://support.twitter.com).
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