Information for Law Enforcement

The information and guidelines provided below are intended for United States and international law enforcement and government agencies who are seeking to request Niantic Spatial player records (i.e., user data) from Niantic Spatial, Inc. (“Niantic Spatial”). Please be aware that this page may be updated at any time and does not create any obligations concerning how Niantic Spatial will respond in a particular case. Notwithstanding the information provided here, Niantic Spatial does not waive, and expressly reserves, all available rights and objections.

U.S. Law Enforcement Requests for Records

We disclose account records in accordance with our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and applicable law, including the Stored Communications Act (“SCA”) 18 U.S.C. § 2701, et seq. and analogous state laws. You can find examples of information we store in our Privacy Policy.

Non-U.S. Law Enforcement Requests for Records

If you are outside the United States, you generally cannot compel Niantic Spatial to provide any player information unless you obtain a valid U.S. court order (via the mutual legal assistance treaties, letter rogatory, or other process involving international cooperation, such as pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1782). Non-U.S. law enforcement requests are to be submitted to lawenforcement@nianticspatial.com. As a courtesy to non-U.S. law enforcement, Niantic Spatial will review and respond to written preservation requests while the MLAT or letters rogatory process is undertaken.

Player Records Request Requirements

  • Submission. All requests for player records should be dated and submitted via email to lawenforcement@nianticspatial.com. This is the fastest and most efficient means of contacting Niantic Spatial. Requests and legal process can also be personally served on Niantic Spatial through its agent, Incorporating Services, Ltd. (“Incserv”) in California at 7801 Folsom Boulevard, Suite 202, Sacramento, CA, 95826 and in Delaware at 3500 S Dupont Hwy, Dover DE 19901.

    • Our agreement to accept legal process by these methods is for convenience purposes only and does not waive any available objections, including lack of jurisdiction or proper service.

  • All requests for records must include:

    • Requestor contact information, including: name, title, agency, government-issued email address, direct contact phone number (including the extension if applicable), mailing address, and requested response date (please allow at least 10 days for processing).

  • Addressing. Each request must identify Niantic Spatial, Inc., 1 Ferry Building Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94111 as the entity to which the legal process is directed. Submitting legal process by mail will result in slower processing times.

  • Proper Identifiers. All requests for player data must specifically identify a player account. In order to accurately search, Niantic Spatial requires an identifier in the form of an email address associated with a player account, or a username/Agent Nickname.

  • Data Requested. All requests must state the records requested with specificity. This includes any particular categories of data sought (including if you are seeking records that were previously preserved pursuant to a preservation request) and date limitations for any available requested data.

  • Relevant Legal Process. Niantic Spatial reviews each request for player data and the associated legal process to ensure facial validity and legal sufficiency under applicable laws and regulations. Niantic Spatial will only provide available player data when presented with the following required legal process (or in response to a valid Emergency Data Disclosure Request, as described below):

    • A valid trial, grand jury, or administrative subpoena is required to compel the disclosure of basic subscriber information, defined in 18 U.S.C. § 2703(c)(2). Basic subscriber information (“BSI”) may include a user’s name, email address, length of service with Niantic Spatial products, telephone records and IP addresses, and payment information, if available.

    • A valid court order issued under 18 U.S.C. § 2703(d) is required to compel the disclosure of other records pertaining to usage of an account, not including the contents of player communications.

    • A valid search warrant issued under the procedures described in the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure or equivalent state warrant procedure is required to compel the disclosure of player communications, or a player’s location information, if available.

  • Context and Offense(s) Under Investigation. So that Niantic Spatial can ensure validity and sufficiency, the request should indicate the nature of the crime(s) being investigated, including citations to the underlying legal authority, the circumstances of the offense, and how it is connected to Niantic Spatial.

  • Player Notification. For purposes of transparency and due process, Niantic Spatial’s policy is to notify players (e.g., prior to disclosure of account information) of valid requests for their Niantic Spatial account information, including a copy of the request, unless we are prohibited from doing so (e.g., by an order under 18 U.S.C. § 2705(b) or equivalent non-disclosure authority). We ask that any non-disclosure provisions include a specified duration (e.g., 90 days) during which Niantic Spatial is prohibited from notifying the player. Exceptions to our player notice policy may also include, at Niantic Spatial’s sole discretion, exigent or counterproductive circumstances, such as child exploitation, terrorism or emergencies regarding imminent threat to life.

Data Retention Information

Niantic Spatial retains data in accordance with our Privacy Policy. In responding to requests for player data, Niantic Spatial is only able to search for and disclose data that is reasonably accessible.

Player Records Preservation Requirements

In accordance with applicable law, 18 U.S.C. § 2703(f), Niantic Spatial will temporarily preserve player data pending service or issuance of legal process for disclosure of that information. Preservation requests must meet all of the following requirements:

  • Sent to lawenforcement@nianticspatial.com with the subject line “Preservation Request | [User ID - Docket/Case No.]”

  • Sent from a government-issued email address;

  • Submitted on law enforcement letterhead and signed by the requesting officer or agent;

  • Identifies Niantic Spatial player(s) and the particular player record(s) that are to be preserved;

  • Identifies the time period for which the records are to be preserved (i.e., 90 days); and

  • Include assurances that the requesting agency or individual is taking steps to obtain appropriate legal process for access to the data that we are being asked to retain.

Unless Niantic Spatial receives an extension request, the preservation will be released at the expiration of the initial preservation term, which is 90 days as provided by law, and the preserved records will be subject to Niantic Spatial’s normal retention or destruction schedules. Niantic Spatial strongly recommends that law enforcement submit an extension request at least seven (7) days before the expiration of the prior preservation term. When you are submitting your extension request, please clearly identify the request as a preservation extension in the subject line of your correspondence (e.g., “Preservation Extension | [User ID - Docket/Case No.]”).

In the ordinary course, players will not be notified of a preservation request of their account information.

Emergency Data Disclosure Requests

In emergency circumstances, in which there is a risk of death, serious physical injury to a person requiring the disclosure of player data without delay, or situations involving child safety, law enforcement may submit a request via email to lawenforcement@nianticspatial.com with “Emergency Data Disclosure Request” included in the subject line. Niantic Spatial will endeavor to review and process these requests on an expedited basis. Any disclosures in response to emergency disclosure requests will be limited to that information which would help prevent the imminent harm.

All Emergency Requests must include:

  • A description of the emergency, including dates, the relevant risk of death or serious physical injury;

  • The identity of the person who is in danger of death or serious physical injury and their involvement;

  • Valid Niantic Spatial account identifier(s) in the form of email address(es) or username(s) (in plain text file to ensure accuracy);

  • The specific player data requested, including relevant dates and limited to what is strictly necessary to prevent death or physical injury;

  • An explanation as to how that information is necessary to avert an imminent threat;

  • An explanation as to why you lack sufficient time to submit appropriate legal process for the requested data;

  • Your contact information, including name, title, agency, government-issued email address, phone number, and street address; and

  • Include the statement, “I certify to Niantic Spatial that: (1) I am a law enforcement agent or government official submitting this request in the performance of my official duties and responsibilities; (2) based on my personal knowledge, the information is true and correct; and (3) I have a good faith belief that the circumstances described above present an emergency involving danger of death or serious physical injury to a person, necessitating Niantic Spatial’s immediate disclosure of the requested information relating to the emergency.

Niantic Spatial evaluates Emergency Data Disclosure Requests on a case-by-case basis and will consider requests in light of applicable laws and our policies, and may request additional information to verify the nature of the request and/or the identity of the person making the request. Under 18 U.S.C. §§ 2702(b)(8) and 2702(c)(4), Niantic Spatial is permitted, but not required, to voluntarily disclose information, including contents of communications, location information, and customer records, to a federal, state, or local governmental entity if Niantic Spatial believes in good faith that an emergency involving child safety, imminent danger of death or serious physical injury to any person requires such disclosure without delay.

Note that this information is for law enforcement seeking information in an emergency. Any players or non-law enforcement personnel aware of an emergency situation should immediately contact their local law enforcement.

Certificate of Authentication or Expert Testimony

Generally, Niantic Spatial will not provide in-person testimony or expert witnesses. The records that Niantic Spatial produces are self-authenticating and should not require the testimony of a records custodian to be used in any legal proceeding. Niantic Spatial endeavors to provide a standard certificate of business records with its productions, when necessary or upon request.

Cost Reimbursement

Niantic Spatial may seek reimbursement for costs in responding to requests for information as provided by law (e.g., 18 U.S.C. § 2706). If we seek reimbursement for the actual costs of preserving and/or producing information, Niantic Spatial will provide a good faith estimate of such costs as part of our production or upon law enforcement’s request prior to our processing.

These fees apply on a per account basis. We may also charge additional fees for costs incurred in responding to unusual or burdensome requests.

We may waive these fees in matters investigating potential harm to children and emergency requests.

Non-Law Enforcement Requests

The above information is specific to law enforcement and governmental requests for player data. Note that federal law allows private parties to obtain only limited information with a subpoena or court order. Niantic Spatial may provide available basic subscriber information where such information is indispensable to the case and not within a party’s ability to acquire on their own, after personal service of a valid subpoena and notice to the player. Niantic Spatial only accepts valid federal, California, or California-domesticated subpoenas which have been personally served on Niantic Spatial’s registered agent for service of process, as described above.

Private parties can request their own account information and content by emailing privacy@nianticspatial.com.

Last Updated: May 2025