Scope and legal process
FocalShift AI discloses account information only in response to valid legal process, with member consent, in a qualifying emergency, or as otherwise permitted or required by law. Requests must be lawful, properly issued, directed to FocalShift AI, and within the requesting authority’s jurisdiction. We interpret requests narrowly and may require a subpoena, court order, warrant, or other process appropriate to the information sought.
Submitting a request
Requests may be submitted through FocalShift Contact with the subject “Law-Enforcement Request.” Include the requesting agency and officer, official contact details, legal authority, signed process, return date, confidentiality requirements, and a precise account identifier such as an account email, username, profile URL, transaction identifier, or other unique value. Broad names, screenshots, or real-world identities alone may be insufficient.
Required specificity
Identify the records requested, relevant date range, alleged offense, relationship between the account and investigation, and legal basis for each category. Requests should be no broader than necessary. We may seek clarification, object, ask that a request be narrowed, or decline process that is defective, overbroad, inconsistent with applicable law, or technically impossible to fulfill.
Preservation requests
Authorized agencies may request temporary preservation of existing account records pending valid legal process. A request must identify the account precisely, specify the records and period to preserve, cite legal authority, and state the anticipated process. Preservation does not require disclosure and does not create data that FocalShift does not possess.
Emergency requests
When an emergency creates a good-faith belief that disclosure is necessary to prevent imminent death or serious physical harm, an authorized official may submit an emergency request through FocalShift Contact and clearly mark it “Emergency.” The request should describe the emergency, person at risk, immediacy, information sought, connection to the danger, and why ordinary process cannot be obtained in time. We evaluate each request individually and may contact the agency to verify it.
Member notice
We generally notify an affected member before disclosure so the member may seek legal relief, unless prohibited by valid law or court order or when notice would create a risk of harm, flight, evidence destruction, or obstruction. If notice is delayed, we may provide it after the restriction expires unless legally prohibited.
Cross-border requests
Authorities seeking information across borders may need to use a mutual legal assistance treaty, letters rogatory, an executive agreement, or other process recognized by applicable law. We may honor a request made directly where legally valid and consistent with applicable privacy, human-rights, and jurisdictional requirements.
Data availability and production
We can produce only information in our possession and reasonably retrievable when a request is processed. We do not guarantee retention of any category for a fixed period. Records may have been deleted, de-identified, or never collected. Production format and timing depend on scope, legal requirements, security, and technical feasibility.
Child safety and imminent harm
FocalShift may preserve and report apparent child sexual exploitation, credible threats, or other matters to designated authorities where legally required or permitted. These reports do not replace the requirement that an agency use appropriate legal process for additional account information.
Costs, confidentiality, and security
We may seek reimbursement of legally permitted costs for unusually burdensome requests. Agencies must protect produced information, limit it to the stated lawful purpose, and use secure delivery methods. FocalShift does not provide governments with voluntary bulk access, persistent surveillance access, or encryption backdoors.
Civil requests and contact
These Guidelines do not govern private-party subpoenas or ordinary civil discovery, which must follow applicable rules and service requirements. Questions about official requests may be submitted through FocalShift Contact.