Facebook and law enforcement

Facebook strives to both respect peoples’ privacy and be a good partner to law enforcement.

Striking the right balance

We take privacy very seriously. We work with law enforcement where appropriate and to the extent required by law to ensure the safety of the people who use Facebook. We respect and enforce applicable laws, and the limits they place on access to Facebook data.

Disclosing information

Federal law (Stored Communications Act, 18 U.S.C. § 2701 et seq.) prohibits Facebook from disclosing the contents of an account (such as messages, wall posts, photos etc.) except in response to a civil subpoena or court order. There are ways that we can provide a limited amount of information to help law enforcement officials do their jobs. For more information, please see the Law Enforcement and Legal Matters section of our Help Centre.

Escalating an issue

Please report to Facebook any content you see that violates our Terms. If you think you or someone you know is in an emergency situation, please call your local police.