We believe that Reddit users have a right to know how their personal data is being managed by Reddit and how it is shared in response to legal requests from governmental and non-governmental parties. In this report, we have consolidated and summarized information about user data requests in 2018, including requests from governmental entities worldwide and civil subpoenas from private parties from within the United States (Reddit typically does not respond to non-U.S. private-party requests). The data presented includes information regarding the number of requests received, who submitted them, and how often we either complied or pushed back.

1. Governmental Requests

In 2018, Reddit received 752 requests for the preservation or production of user account information from governmental entities. Reddit carefully reviewed each request for compliance with legal standards and followed the procedure described in Reddit’s Privacy Policy.

Reddit receives different types of governmental requests seeking user account information. Requests vary based on the specific case that the authorities are working on and the type of data that is relevant to their investigation. Requests can seek to preserve user account information as a part of an ongoing investigation, while officials seek to obtain a valid legal request for the production of user account information (“Preservation” requests). Requests can also seek the production of data in certain circumstances (“Production” requests). Law enforcement agencies can also request that Reddit immediately disclose of data related to an emergency situation where there is an imminent threat to public safety, or a person (“Emergency Disclosure Requests”).

As outlined in the Privacy Policy, when Reddit receives legal process asking for user information, Reddit attempts to notify the targeted user unless Reddit receives a valid non-disclosure order prohibiting us from doing so.

Of the 752 requests submitted by governmental entities:

171 were requests to preserve user account information; and

581 were requests to produce user account information.

a) Preservation requests

Reddit currently only processes preservation requests that originate from the United States.



A preservation request directs Reddit to save certain user account information by taking a snapshot of information in the account. These requests can only direct Reddit to preserve information already in the account when the request is received; they cannot be used to compel Reddit to preserve information preemptively. Generally, governmental entities send these requests if they intend to obtain legal process directed to Reddit seeking production of that same information, and want to ensure that the data they seek is not purged while they go through the steps necessary to obtain legal process. A preservation request may result in information being retained beyond the date it would ordinarily be retained as specified in the Privacy Policy.



In accordance with the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (“ECPA”), Reddit will only preserve user account information for a period of up to 90 days, and will not disclose the information to the government unless and until Reddit receives legal process. After the 90-day period specified above lapses, Reddit will purge the preserved data, unless Reddit receives an preservation extension request (at which point Reddit will preserve the account information for an additional period up to 90 days).

In 2018, Reddit received 171 preservation requests, a 116% increase over the 79 preservation requests received in 2017. Reddit complied with 91% of the preservation requests received.



b) Production Requests

When Reddit receives a request from a governmental entity to produce information, Reddit reviews the request to ensure it is consistent with ECPA (which governs when, and how, the government can obtain user account information from United States communications providers such as Reddit) and that is otherwise legally valid. If we determine that request is not legally valid, or if we consider the request to be overbroad or unclear, we will either ask the party submitting the request to modify or refine it, or we will challenge or reject it.

In 2018, Reddit received a total of 581 requests to produce user account information from both United States and foreign governmental entities (including Emergency Disclosure Requests which are discussed in further detailed below). This represents a 151% increase compared to the number received in 2017. Reddit disclosed user account information in response to 447 (77%) of these requests.

i) United States Requests (Non-Emergency)

In 2018, Reddit received 319 non-emergency pieces of legal process from United States governmental entities seeking the production of user account information (in the form of subpoenas, court orders, and search warrants). Reddit complied with 89% of these requests.

Below is a graph which represents the type of production requests received, and the extent to which we complied with each type. Reddit did not receive any orders to conduct real-time monitoring of a Reddit user’s communications in 2018.

ii) Foreign Requests (Non-Emergency)

In 2018, Reddit received 28 requests for the production of user account information from foreign governmental authorities (excluding emergency requests). Reddit did not comply with any of these requests.

iii) Emergency Disclosure Requests

Under ECPA, United States and foreign governmental authorities can request voluntary disclosure of user account information in case of an emergency (such as imminent danger of death or serious physical injury to a person, or to the general public). These are known as “Emergency Disclosure Requests”. Reddit is permitted to disclose information if, in Reddit’s discretion, it has a good faith belief that disclosure is necessary to avoid the emergency.

In 2018, Reddit received a total of 234 Emergency Disclosure Requests, globally. Reddit disclosed user account information in response to 162 (69%) of these requests.

The number of Emergency Disclosure Requests received in 2018 increased by 470% from the number of requests received in 2017 (41).

United States Emergency Disclosure Requests

Of the total number of Emergency Disclosure Requests received, 207 were received from United States governmental authorities. Reddit disclosed user account information in response to 146 (71%) of these requests.

Foreign Emergency Disclosure Requests

Reddit received 27 Emergency Disclosure Requests from foreign authorities. Reddit disclosed user account information in response to 16 (57%) of these requests.

Below is a graph which shows the countries from which the requests originated, and the extent to which we complied with such requests.