Ember Law Enforcement & Safety Protocols

1. Overview

Ember respects user privacy and complies with valid legal requests. This page outlines the protocols and procedures Ember follows when responding to requests from law enforcement and government agencies, and when addressing serious safety concerns.

2. Who may submit a request

Requests must come from a recognised law enforcement or government authority acting within its legal jurisdiction. Ember does not respond to informal inquiries or requests from private parties. Private parties should report concerns through the in-app reporting tools or Ember's support channel.

3. Required information

To process a request, Ember requires:

• The name, agency, and contact details of the requesting officer
• The legal basis and specific statute or authority for the request
• A clear description of the records or data sought
• The relevant user identifiers (account email, profile name, or user ID)
• The timeframe of data requested

4. Legal process

Ember requires valid legal process appropriate to the data requested. This may include subpoenas, court orders, search warrants, or other formal judicial authorisation issued under applicable law. Ember reviews every request for legal validity and narrows the data produced to what is authorised. Ember may object to or challenge requests that are overly broad, unlawful, or that conflict with user privacy rights or applicable data protection law.

5. Emergency requests

In emergencies involving imminent risk of serious harm or death, law enforcement may submit an expedited request. Ember will review and respond to qualifying emergencies as quickly as practicable. Emergency requests should clearly describe the nature of the emergency and the risk involved.

6. Child safety and CSAM

Ember has zero tolerance for child sexual abuse material. Suspected CSAM is treated as the highest priority. Ember will take steps to remove such content, preserve relevant information, and report it to the appropriate authorities, including law enforcement and child-safety organisations, in accordance with applicable law. Ember cooperates fully with law enforcement investigations involving child safety.

7. Human trafficking and exploitation

Ember prohibits the use of the Service for human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and forced labour. Reports involving suspected trafficking or exploitation are escalated as high priority and may be reported to law enforcement. Ember cooperates with investigations into trafficking and exploitation as required by law.

8. Preservation and disclosure of information

Upon receipt of a valid legal request, Ember may preserve account information, content, and usage records as required. Ember retains account and usage data only as long as necessary to provide the Service and meet legal obligations. The availability of historical data depends on what Ember collects and retains at the time of a request. Where permitted by law, Ember notifies users of requests for their data.

9. How we respond

Ember reviews every request for legal validity and produces only the data authorised by the request. Responses are provided through secure channels to the verified requesting authority. Ember may decline to produce data that is not properly authorised or that would violate applicable law.

10. Data retention

Ember retains account and usage data only as long as necessary to provide the Service, comply with legal obligations, and support the safety and integrity of the platform. The retention period for specific data types depends on applicable law and the purpose for which the data was collected.

11. User notification

Where permitted by law and not prohibited by the legal process itself, Ember notifies users of requests for their data. Ember may delay or withhold notification where it is legally prohibited or where notification could compromise an investigation, a legal obligation, or user safety.

12. Related policies

For information on user conduct rules and enforcement, see our Acceptable Use Policy. For the terms governing use of the Service, see our Terms & Conditions.