TikTok U.S. policy is to notify U.S. users when it produces their data, unless prohibited or exceptional
TikTok U.S.'s policy is to notify U.S. TikTok users when it produces their user data to law enforcement under legal process. Exceptions are when the law prohibits notice, or when TikTok U.S. determines, in its sole discretion, that exceptional circumstances apply, for example in child exploitation cases or when notice could otherwise put individuals at risk of harm.
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Supporting quotations
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.
Qualifications & exceptions
Applies to production of user data pursuant to legal process, for U.S. TikTok users.
The exceptions for exceptional circumstances are decided in TikTok U.S.'s "sole discretion"; the examples are non-exhaustive ("including, for example").
Not stated here
The source does not say when notice is given relative to the production, or in what form.
contrast (model-proposed): TikTok U.S.'s general practice is not to notify users of emergency requests — The notification policy says users are notified of production under legal process, while the emergency section says the general practice is not to notify users of emergency requests. The two apply to different kinds of requests, and the source does not say whether an emergency disclosure is later notified.
Sharing & Disclosure · Restriction or exception
TikTok U.S. will not notify when prohibited by law; agencies seeking no notice should provide a court order
TikTok U.S. will not notify a user when notice is prohibited by law, including when it receives a court order prohibiting notification. Law enforcement agencies that believe notice would jeopardize an investigation or have other adverse results should provide a court order or other binding legal process prohibiting notification. Requests should also indicate whether user notification is permitted.
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Supporting quotations
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.
User notification: Please indicate whether user notification is permitted
Qualifications & exceptions
The prohibition must come from law or a court order or other binding legal process.
Not stated here
The source does not say whether TikTok U.S. would hold off on notice at an agency's request without a court order or other binding legal process, apart from the exceptional circumstances its policy reserves to its own discretion.
After a non-disclosure order or legal restriction expires, TikTok may give the user delayed notice
Where a legal non-disclosure order or statutory restriction on notice expires, TikTok may give the affected user delayed notice after the prohibition ends, consistent with applicable law and platform policy.
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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.
Qualifications & exceptions
"May", not "will": delayed notice is not promised.
Subject to applicable law and platform policy.
Not stated here
The source does not say whether or when delayed notice will actually be given, or what platform policy governs it.
Sharing & Disclosure · Company practice
TikTok U.S.'s general practice is not to notify users of preservation requests
It is TikTok U.S.'s general practice not to notify users of preservation requests, subject to applicable law and policy. The user-notification policy described in Section 4 is stated for the production of user data.
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Supporting quotations
It is our general practice not to notify users of preservation requests, subject to applicable law and policy.
Qualifications & exceptions
"General practice", subject to applicable law and policy.
Not stated here
The source does not say whether a user is told about a preservation request after the fact, for example if their data is later produced.
TikTok U.S. may provide user data in an emergency involving imminent harm or risk of death or serious physical injury
TikTok U.S. says it has processes for emergency requests and evaluates each case by case. If an emergency request gives information that, in TikTok U.S.'s assessment, is enough 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, it may provide the user data necessary to prevent that harm, as permitted by applicable law.
Details
Who
TikTok U.S.
Condition
good faith belief of an emergency involving imminent harm or risk of death or serious physical injury
Supporting quotations
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.
Qualifications & exceptions
Case-by-case evaluation.
Applies only when the information is "sufficient in our assessment" to establish a good faith belief of an emergency involving imminent harm or risk of death or serious physical injury.
Limited to user data "necessary to prevent that harm", and "as permitted by applicable law".
Not stated here
The source does not say whether an emergency disclosure needs any legal process, which data types may be provided, or how TikTok U.S. applies its assessment.
TikTok U.S.'s general practice is not to notify users of emergency requests
It is TikTok U.S.'s general practice not to notify users of emergency requests, subject to applicable law and policy.
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Supporting quotations
It is our general practice not to notify users of emergency requests, subject to applicable law and policy.
Qualifications & exceptions
"General practice", subject to applicable law and policy.
Not stated here
The source does not say whether a user is told after an emergency disclosure; the user-notification policy in Section 4 is stated for production of user data under legal process.
Cross-references
contrast (model-proposed): TikTok U.S. policy is to notify U.S. users when it produces their data, unless prohibited or exceptional — The notification policy says users are notified of production under legal process, while the emergency section says the general practice is not to notify users of emergency requests. The two apply to different kinds of requests, and the source does not say whether an emergency disclosure is later notified.
Every request is assessed case by case by a dedicated law enforcement response team before data is disclosed
All requests received go through a case-by-case assessment by TikTok U.S.'s dedicated law enforcement response team before any user data is disclosed. The 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.
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Supporting quotations
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.
Qualifications & exceptions
Applies to "all requests received" and to "any" disclosure of user data.
Not stated here
The size, location, training content or decision criteria of the response team are not described.
Sharing & Disclosure · Permission or license
TikTok U.S. may disclose user data in an emergency without a formal legal request
TikTok U.S. says it may disclose user data without receiving a formal legal request based on valid legal process in listed cases. One case is an emergency: where it is satisfied there is an emergency involving imminent harm or risk of death or serious physical injury to a person, it may provide user data necessary to prevent that harm, as permitted by applicable law.
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Supporting quotations
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.
Qualifications & exceptions
Only user data "necessary to prevent that harm", and "as permitted by applicable law".
Not stated here
The paragraph says emergencies are "explained in Section 5 of the Law Enforcement Guidelines", but in this document Section 5 is Preservation Requests and emergency requests are in Section 6; the source does not say whether this is a numbering discrepancy.
Section 2 says data is not disclosed if a request does not meet the legal requirements; the source does not reconcile that with disclosure without a formal legal request in emergencies beyond the wording quoted.
Cross-references
contrast (model-proposed): Requests must state data type and legal basis; content data generally needs a court order or warrant — Section 2 says data is not disclosed when a request does not meet the applicable legal requirements, while the FAQ says TikTok U.S. may disclose user data in an emergency without a formal legal request. The source states both and does not reconcile them beyond the emergency wording.
TikTok U.S. reports certain user data on its own to law enforcement or designated bodies in limited circumstances
TikTok U.S. may disclose user data without a formal legal request in limited circumstances, including where it is subject to legal obligations, by reporting certain user data to law enforcement authorities or to designated bodies. Examples are 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.
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Supporting quotations
TikTok U.S may disclose user data without receiving a formal legal request (based on valid legal process) in the following cases:
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.
Qualifications & exceptions
"Limited circumstances, including where TikTok U.S is subject to legal obligations": legal obligation is one example, not the only trigger.
Examples are NCMEC reporting and reporting suspicious financial transactions.
Not stated here
The source does not say which "certain user data" is reported, who the other designated bodies are, or what other limited circumstances apply.
Examples of possible emergencies: child safety, missing persons, self-harm, imminent violence and disasters
All emergency disclosure requests are assessed case by case by the law enforcement response team on their particular circumstances. The source lists examples that may constitute an emergency: child safety and exploitation, missing persons, suicide and self-injury, imminent threats of violence (including terrorism), and natural or man-made disasters such as fires, floods or earthquakes.
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Supporting quotations
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:
Cases of child safety and exploitation;
Missing persons;
Suicide and self-injury scenarios;
Imminent threats of violence (including terrorism); or
Natural or man-made disaster situations (such as fires, floods, earthquakes, etc).
Qualifications & exceptions
The examples "may constitute an emergency"; each request is judged on its own circumstances.
Not stated here
The source does not say that any listed scenario automatically qualifies.