P12. User notification about third-party requests for user information

The company should notify users to the extent legally possible when their user information has been requested by governments and other third parties.

Elements
  1. Does the company clearly disclose that it notifies users when government entities (including courts or other judicial bodies) request their user information?
  2. Does the company clearly disclose that it notifies users when private parties request their user information?
  3. Does the company clearly disclose situations when it might not notify users, including a description of the types of government requests it is prohibited by law from disclosing to users?
Research guidance

We expect companies to clearly disclose a commitment to notifying users when governments and private parties request data about users. We acknowledge that this notice may not be possible in legitimate cases of an ongoing investigation; however, we expect companies to specify what types of government requests they are prohibited by law from disclosing.

Potential sources:

  • Company transparency report
  • Company law enforcement guidelines