Law Enforcement Guidelines

We understand that when you entrust your data to us, you expect us to keep it safe. These principles describe how we will deal with law enforcement requests for CARTO user information.

Summary

We support law enforcement’s effort to conduct effective and efficient investigations, to the extent that requests do not infringe on the rights of our users.

Law enforcement requests must (i) comply with all applicable laws; (ii) be related to a specific investigation and (iii) be narrowly tailored to the subject of that investigation. We reserve the right to object to requests that are overly broad, vague, or improperly served.

We will notify users about requests for their information, including with the notification a copy of the request, unless legally prohibited from doing so.

Via our online products, we collect both user information and user content. Requests must come from appropriate government or law enforcement officials. An order of sufficient legal scope is required for disclosure of each type of information. For example, under U.S. law:

  • a valid subpoena issued in connection with an official criminal investigation is required to compel disclosure of basic user information under 18 US Code section 2703(c)(2), such as name, address, registered email address(es), and IP login(s), if available; and
  • a search warrant issued under the procedures described in the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure or equivalent state warrant procedures, based on a showing of probable cause, is required to compel disclosure of the stored contents of any user content -- e.g. maps, data, user location information and user communications with CARTO.

If, in our good faith judgment, there is an emergency involving danger to life or limb, we may provide the limited information neeeded to prevent harm, if we have it.

Requests to CARTO should include:

  • Details of the specific information being requested;
  • Relationship of the information to an ongoing investigation;
  • Requester's name, title, agency, office, official email address, and direct phone number; and,
  • Deadline to respond.

Preservation Requests

Upon receipt of a valid preservation request, issued in accordance with applicable law and in accordance with general requirements for such requests, CARTO will take reasonable steps to preserve user information for up to 90 days.

Where to Send Requests

Law enforcement officials can submit requests by mail or in person at:

CARTO - Government Requests

307 5th Ave Fl 9 New York, NY 10016
Phone: +1.917.463.3232
Fax: +1.917.979.6607

Neither we nor our users waive any legal rights based on providing these means of receipt of requests.

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