Law Enforcement Guidelines

TikTok · agreement dated 6 October 2026 · Official agreement

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Law Enforcement Guidelines

Last updated: 6 October 2026

These guidelines (“Guidelines”) are a reference for law enforcement officials seeking the data of U.S.-based users of the TikTok platform (the “Platform”), which is operated by TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC in the United States (“TikTok U.S.”). For additional information, see our Law Enforcement FAQS. TikTok U.S. is committed to cooperating with law enforcement while respecting the privacy, freedom of expression, and other rights of its users, in line with TikTok Inc.'s ("TikTok's") human rights statement. To achieve this, in addition to these Guidelines, TikTok U.S. has internal policies and procedures governing how TikTok U.S. handles and responds to law enforcement requests. These procedures are informed by legal and human rights standards and have been developed in a way that seeks to limit adverse human rights impacts, while enabling TikTok U.S. to comply with legitimate, valid legal requests from law enforcement (including regulatory authorities, where relevant) to disclose user data. If your request relates to TikTok U.S. Shop data, please refer to the TikTok Shop Law Enforcement & Regulatory Disclosure Guidelines. We reject requests which go against our policies and procedures.

1. Basic requirements

First, requests must be addressed to the correct TikTok entity*. This is based on the location of the relevant user.

Requests for data of users located in the United States:

TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC 5800 Bristol Parkway, Suite 300 Culver City, CA 90230 UNITED STATES

For requests for data of users located outside the United States, please refer to the global version of the TikTok Law Enforcement Guidelines. If you are unsure of where the user is located, please insert the username (or other identifier) on the TikTok Safety Enforcement Tool to confirm the correct region/country.

Please note that requests addressed to the incorrect TikTok entity may not be processed until this has been rectified, which may cause unnecessary delay.

Second, requests must be submitted to our webform: www.tiktok.com/legal/report/lawenforcementrequest with any attachments (for example, official warrant, court order, or other documentation supporting the request) in PDF format (word format will not be accepted).

Any confirmation of receipt of correspondence is for convenience only and, in doing so, TikTok U.S. does not waive any right of objection (including for lack of jurisdiction, invalid legal process or lack of proper service). All requests to TikTok U.S. and any supporting documents (including orders, warrants, and/or subpoenas or equivalent) must be provided in English or with a translation. TikTok U.S. will not respond to requests for user data sent by non-law enforcement officials or when they are sent through informal channels (such as personal email addresses).

2. Types of user data

TikTok U.S. may hold the following user data, which can be the subject of a valid law enforcement request:

Subscriber information

Log-in / log-out data

Interaction data (non-content)

Content data

Transaction data

Each request must clearly specify the type of data requested and the legal basis for requesting it. If the request does not meet the applicable legal requirements for the requested data (as listed in Section 3 below), the data will not be disclosed. This is in particular the case for requests relating to content data (which generally require a domestic court / judicial order, warrant or equivalent).

3. Requirements when making a request

To ensure timely processing, all law enforcement requests must be submitted in a non-editable electronic format (such as PDF), written on official law enforcement agency letterhead, signed, and dated.

Platform Identification: The legal process (preservation request, subpoena, court order, or warrant) must explicitly name the TikTok application within the body of the document itself. Generic requests or process naming unrelated third-party services will not be accepted.

Every request must additionally include all of the following information:

4. User Notifications

Our policy is to notify U.S. TikTok users of our production of user data to law enforcement pursuant to legal process, unless prohibited by law or where we determine in our sole discretion that exceptional circumstances apply, including, for example, in child exploitation cases or when such notice could otherwise put individuals at risk of harm.

We will not provide user notification when it is prohibited by law, including when we receive a court order prohibiting user notification. Law enforcement agencies that believe user notification would jeopardize an investigation or have other adverse results should provide a court order or other binding legal process prohibiting notification.

Where a legal non-disclosure order or statutory restriction expires, TikTok may provide delayed notice to the affected user following the expiration of the legal prohibition, consistent with applicable law and platform policy.

5. Preservation Requests

TikTok U.S. will honor formal requests by law enforcement to preserve user data for 90 days only if it fulfils the criteria above. Please submit all preservation requests to the webform: www.tiktok.com/legal/report/lawenforcementrequest with your preservation request attached in PDF format. It is our general practice not to notify users of preservation requests, subject to applicable law and policy.

Preservation requests must be sent on law enforcement letterhead, signed, and must clearly identify the specific user data to be preserved (by reference to username, the data type and date ranges as per Section 3 above). TikTok U.S. will preserve information for an initial 90 day period (and may extend for an additional 90-day period upon receipt of a formal request to extend the preservation). We may not honour multiple extension requests beyond one additional 90-day period. If TikTok U.S. does not receive formal legal process for the preserved information before the end of the preservation period, the preserved information may be deleted when the preservation period expires.

Overly broad or unspecific preservation requests will not be actioned. To seek disclosure of preserved data, the requirements set out in Sections 1 and 3 of these Guidelines will apply.

6. Emergency requests

TikTok U.S. has processes in place to handle emergency requests. Such requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis: if as part of an emergency request we receive information that is sufficient in our assessment to establish a good faith belief that there is an emergency involving imminent harm or the risk of death or serious physical injury to a person, we may provide user data necessary to prevent that harm, as permitted by applicable law. It is our general practice not to notify users of emergency requests, subject to applicable law and policy. To request this data, you must submit your request through our web form: www.tiktok.com/legal/report/lawenforcementrequest All emergency requests must be made by a sworn law enforcement official, and come from an official law enforcement email domain (if sent via email). Non-law enforcement personnel aware of an emergency situation should immediately and directly contact local law enforcement officials.

7. Other

It may be necessary for a law enforcement authority to submit a request for legal assistance to designated government authorities under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (“MLAT”) framework, or by letters rogatory. For instance, this may arise in circumstances where the requesting law enforcement authority is located in a different country to the TikTok entity that provides the service to the relevant user whose data is requested (refer to Section 1 above). See the Law Enforcement FAQs for more information in relation to MLAT. In submitting a request, law enforcement officials are required to ensure that any information provided is complete and accurate to the best of their knowledge and good faith belief, and that the disclosure (or other action) requested is necessary and proportionate for the purposes of the prevention, detection or investigation of offences, or to prevent an emergency. Once received by law enforcement, the law enforcement authority is required to handle such data in accordance with applicable laws, including relevant data protection laws. TikTok U.S. reserves the right to seek reimbursement for the costs associated with responding to law enforcement requests. TikTok U.S. may update these Guidelines from time to time, and such changes may be informed by a range of factors, including legal or human rights developments, operational and/or product changes to the Platform. All relevant updates will be reflected on the TikTok U.S. website.

TikTok USDS JV Law Enforcement Frequently Asked Questions (“FAQS”)

These FAQS should be read together with TikTok U.S.’s Law Enforcement Guidelines.

What is TikTok U.S.’s approach to handling data requests from law enforcement authorities?

TikTok U.S. is committed to cooperating with law enforcement while respecting the privacy, freedom of expression, and other rights of our users. To achieve this, in addition to these Guidelines, TikTok U.S. has internal policies and procedures governing how TikTok U.S handles and responds to law enforcement requests. These procedures are informed by legal and human rights standards and have been developed in a way that seeks to limit adverse human rights impacts, while enabling TikTok U.S to comply with legitimate, valid legal requests from law enforcement to disclose user data.

All requests received undergo a case-by-case assessment by TikTok U.S’s dedicated law enforcement response team before any user data is disclosed. This team is trained to evaluate requests from law enforcement authorities and frequently engages in outreach to communicate TikTok U.S’s requirements for disclosing user data to law enforcement authorities.

What are TikTok U.S’s requirements for disclosing user data to law enforcement authorities?

TikTok U.S’s requirements for disclosing user data to law enforcement authorities are clearly set out in TikTok U.S. Law Enforcement Guidelines (in particular see Sections 1 and 3). These requirements reflect our internal policies and procedures for handling requests from law enforcement authorities, and are based on applicable legal requirements and our commitment to international human rights, including the International Bill of Human Rights. Because the applicable laws vary from one country to another, the rules on when data can legally be disclosed will also vary to some extent and our internal policies and procedures reflect this while at the same time reflecting our global commitments to freedom of expression and privacy.

How do I find a TikTok username?

A TikTok username can be found on a user's profile page, below their profile photo, shown as @xxxxxx.

Does TikTok U.S ever reject data requests from law enforcement authorities?

TikTok U.S may reject data requests from law enforcement authorities where they do not meet the requirements that are clearly set out in TikTok U.S. Law Enforcement Guidelines. The most common examples are as follows:

How else does TikTok U.S ensure that requests from law enforcement authorities are valid?

Aside from rejecting requests from law enforcement authorities that are not made in accordance with the relevant legal processes and requirements, TikTok U.S will in accordance with applicable law:

TikTok may report any fraudulent attempts to obtain user data information to relevant authorities.

Does TikTok U.S ever disclose user data outside of formal legal requests?

TikTok U.S may disclose user data without receiving a formal legal request (based on valid legal process) in the following cases:

  • Emergency circumstances: As explained in Section 5 of the Law Enforcement Guidelines, where satisfied there is an emergency involving imminent harm or risk of death or serious physical injury to a person, we may provide user data necessary to prevent that harm, as permitted by applicable law.
  • Proactive reporting obligations: In limited circumstances, including where TikTok U.S is subject to legal obligations, TikTok U.S reports certain user data either to law enforcement authorities or to designated bodies. Examples include reporting suspected child exploitation to the U.S. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (“NCMEC”) for child safeguarding purposes and reporting suspicious financial transactions to relevant authorities.

What types of scenarios would constitute an emergency?

All emergency disclosure requests undergo a case-by-case assessment and each request will be evaluated by our law enforcement response team based on its particular circumstances. However, the following are some examples that may constitute an emergency:

Does TikTok U.S accept data requests from law enforcement authorities in all countries?

While law enforcement authorities in any country can submit a request to TikTok U.S, the requirements for data disclosure will vary depending on the location of the user, the location of the requesting law enforcement authority and, in certain cases, the type of data requested. In certain circumstances, TikTok U.S will communicate to a law enforcement authority that a request via the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty process (known as “MLAT”) is necessary to obtain disclosure of the requested data.

What is a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (“MLAT”)?

An MLAT is a treaty between two or more countries that defines how each will assist in legal matters, such as in criminal investigations. Through an MLAT, the government of one country can seek assistance from the government of another country in obtaining information from companies located in the other country.

In what circumstances may it be necessary for law enforcement authorities to rely on the MLAT process?

It may be necessary in circumstances where the requesting law enforcement authority is located in a different country to the TikTok entity that provides the service to the relevant user (see Section 1 of our Law Enforcement Guidelines). If law enforcement are unclear as to whether they should rely on MLAT, they can contact TikTok. On receipt of such a request, TikTok will endeavour to communicate to the law enforcement authority whether MLAT is appropriate and to direct them to the designated “central authority” for MLAT purposes in the appropriate country.

Where should non-law enforcement requests be sent?

Non-law enforcement requests should be directed as follows:

How quickly does TikTok U.S process requests?

TikTok U.S’s dedicated law enforcement response team endeavours to respond to all requests in a timely manner but response times can vary in particular due to the caseload volume at a given time and the complexity of a request. If a particular request is time-sensitive, we would ask the requesting law enforcement officer to note this in the request (explaining the reasons). Longer response times can be expected where the request does not meet the requirements set out in our Law Enforcement Guidelines and these Law Enforcement FAQS.

What do I do if I receive a Cybertip report made by TikTok U.S to NCMEC?

If law enforcement has received a Cybertip report made by TikTok U.S to NCMEC, and is now requesting further user data in connection with an investigation, the request must meet the requirements set out in our Law Enforcement Guidelines and these Law Enforcement FAQS. To help us more efficiently process your request, please specify in your request the report number assigned to the Cybertip report by NCMEC.